CSRD Day 2025 showed one thing clearly: sustainability is here to stay.

On 27 November 2025, the second edition of CSRD Day brought hundreds of sustainability, finance, legal, and reporting professionals together at the Nieuwe Buitensociëteit in Zwolle, The Netherlands. The event was fully sold out, underscoring how deeply the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive CSRD is shaping business practice. For Tangelo, it was our second time contributing to the program, and another opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussions about the evolving world of sustainability reporting.

The organizers position CSRD Day as a place to learn from leading speakers, gain practical insights in breakout sessions, meet peers across industries, and attend the Dutch CSRD Awards. That is exactly what the program delivered a substantive, well structured day designed for a Dutch and Flemish professional audience, with sessions held entirely in Dutch.

A full day of insights, with breadth and depth

The program combined plenary keynotes with an extensive set of theme sessions, covering a wide range of CSRD related topics from materiality and data readiness to governance, assurance, supply chain implications, digital reporting, and more. The diversity of themes reflected the reality many organizations face today: CSRD touches far more than reporting alone.

Tangelo contributed to the breakout program with the session: From data collection to the external report: the practical challenges of CSRD reporting.

In this session, we explored why many organizations are now looking for more connected workflows from gathering ESG data and keeping it up to date, to producing the sustainability statement, tagging, and multi channel publishing. The discussion highlighted a clear industry need: reporting teams want fewer tools, less manual work, and stronger integration across the full CSRD process. Conversations at our booth throughout the day reinforced this, with attendees recognizing the importance of solutions that support consistency, accuracy, and efficient collaboration.

A memorable highlight before the CSRD Awards

One of the most engaging moments of the day came just before the CSRD Awards ceremony. Prof. Dr. Dick de Waard, emeritus professor at the University of Groningen and long time expert in sustainability reporting and assurance, delivered a sharp, humorous reflection on Europe's CSRD trajectory. In a single narrative, he captured:

• the early enthusiasm after the adoption of CSRD and ESRS
• the subsequent setbacks from Stop the Clock, postponements, and the Omnibus raising reporting thresholds
• the current reality: many companies that no longer have to report still intend to do so, because expectations have shifted and because Dutch law already requires companies to discuss material non financial matters affecting their position and future Article 2 391 BW

His conclusion resonated: regulatory timing may shift, but the underlying direction does not.

We also congratulate the award winners and nominees including several Tangelo clients: Dura Vermeer, ASN Bank de Volksbank, Stedin, and Fugro.

Why CSRD Day matters for organizations and for us

A recurring theme throughout the event was the influence of the value chain. Even companies without a direct CSRD obligation will increasingly be asked for sustainability information by customers and partners who need reliable data for their own ESRS reporting. This extends into procurement, where carbon pricing, supplier emissions, and other ESG metrics are becoming embedded in sourcing decisions and long term contracts.

For Tangelo, CSRD Day reaffirmed the importance of connecting ESG data, reporting workflows, and digital formats into one coherent process ensuring accuracy, consistency, and the ability to publish across channels and formats, from PDF to digital and XBRL.

Closing thoughts: sustainability is here to stay

The event theme, sustainability is here to stay, echoed through every session. Despite postponements and regulatory debates, organizations are clearly moving forward. CSRD Day 2025 showcased a community committed to learning, improving, and professionalizing sustainability reporting.

For us, it was inspiring to contribute once again to share insights, connect with practitioners, and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of ESG and CSRD reporting. We look forward to returning next year.