What is CSRD Pre-Assurance and Assurance?

With Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) compliance and reporting, accuracy and consistency are vital. We provide independent, third-party verification of environmental, social and governance (ESG) information for a more consistent and precise disclosure.

We assess:

• The compliance of sustainability reporting with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)
• The process for identifying the information reported, according to the ESRS
• Compliance with the requirement to mark up sustainability reporting

The CSRD requires you to consider a progressive approach to enhancing the assurance level from limited to reasonable assurance. Assuring CSRD disclosures is only mandatory for certain organizations from 2024. Before assurance, we can perform pre-assurance readiness to provide early feedback on sustainability information, systems and controls. This enables you to rectify any issues before full assurance.

Pre-assurance

Pre-assurance benefits organizations wishing to identify gaps and weaknesses in their reporting approach before seeking full public assurance. If you are in the early stages of your sustainability reporting journey, our assurance readiness review will uncover missing data and gaps in your methodology while highlighting areas for improvement. It is a confidential “dry run” to reduce the chance of a qualified assurance opinion in a future public assurance statement.

Our pre-assurance service can include:

• Gap analysis of key processes and disclosures against ESRS requirements
• Critical and constructive feedback on aligning data points, ESG targets and reporting processes
• A review of the general structure of your reporting
• A pre-assurance report

What are the benefits of pre-assurance?

• Accurately assess and identify your priorities before full assurance
• Confirm your strengths and weaknesses before full assurance
• Minimize the chance of a qualified assurance statement
• Prepare yourself to confidently and efficiently undergo the full assurance process

Assurance

Our assurance service can include:

• Limited or reasonable level assurance of disclosures
• Assurance for selected ESG metrics, sections of the report, or entire report content
• An assurance statement for publication in the sustainability report
• A detailed internal management report, including information on key strengths and weaknesses in the underlying processes, for future improvement

What are the benefits of sustainability report assurance?

We enable you to:

• Ensure that your ESG disclosures and reports meet all relevant CSRD-related requirements, including those concerning the ESRS
• Reinforce internal reporting processes
• Comply with regulatory requirements
• Ensure data integrity and transparency
• Reduce legal risks
• Avoid greenwashing
• Inspire peers and foster innovation

Why SGS?

We have provided disclosure and sustainability report assurance for over 20 years and constantly evolve with the changing assurance landscape, ensuring that our assurance process aligns with all relevant CSRD requirements.

Sustainability claims on aspects such as Scope 3 carbon emissions, energy use, community engagement, and health and safety can be verified objectively to increase confidence in the accuracy and validity of published information.

Our global network of ESG experts helps to ensure that your disclosures and reports meet the requirements set by relevant stock exchanges in major markets.

We offer:

• AA1000 and/or ISAE 3000, or no reference to assurance standards
• Verification of:
• All or selected KPIs
• The entire or selected parts of your report

• Evaluation of adherence to relevant reporting standards/guidance, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), AA1000 AccountAbility Principles and International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)/International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
• An internal management report for continuous improvement
• An assurance opinion on the accuracy, reliability and completeness of your disclosed sustainability information

We are also aware of and prepared for a possible new accreditation process for assurance providers, under CSRD implementation in local legislation.

Contact us today to start or enhance your CSRD assurance journey.