Your challenge, our solution

By now, the topic of sustainability affects every company and encompasses the major goals and challenges of our time, namely protecting our environment and climate, ensuring sound and sustainable corporate governance and promoting social cohesion. 

Growing regulatory pressure on the one hand and pressure from investors, consumers and employees on the other are forcing companies to act. Requirements such as the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the EU Taxonomy make non-financial reporting mandatory for many companies and summarize criteria that are increasingly being used as a benchmark for investments and companies.

Our interdisciplinary team will help you to overcome these challenges and map them in a holistic ESG strategy. We also help you to identify and implement new business opportunities. In cooperation with our auditors, we also answer the question of whether and how sustainable your products or company are. We also ensure that your business activities meet the increasing sustainability requirements of banks for the granting of loans.
 

Our services

Strategy & transformation

  • Development of sustainable strategies taking into account the EU taxonomy and other relevant laws
  • Strategy review: Identification and implementation of new business opportunities within the company
  • Support in the development & implementation of strategies for the acquisition & implementation of renewable energies
  • Development of a decarbonization strategy and communication with stakeholders
  • Integration of relevant ESG criteria into decision-making, planning, reporting and ERM processes
  • Development of an understanding of sustainability and sustainability targets
  • Advice on the consideration of sustainability aspects in risk management

Audit & preparation of non-financial reporting

  • Assessment of relevance according to CSRD/ESRS/Taxonomy Regulation
  • Research, analysis & evaluation of energy-relevant documents (according to CSRD/ESRS, SFDR)
  • Calculation of energy data & KPIs (e.g., for ESRS E1-5 & E1-6)
  • Stakeholder analysis and identification of the value chain
  • Examination of taxonomy relevance and taxonomy conformity, review of DNSH criteria and minimum safeguards
  • Conceptual design and operationalization of an implementation concept
  • Support with data collection and reporting for Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions

Sustainable finance / sustainable transactions

  • Support with financing applications (fulfillment and reporting of ESG criteria for the granting of loans) 
  • Performing due diligence reviews 
  • Preparation of business plans / business cases and integrated budgeting
  • Support in the implementation of sustainable investments
  • Regulatory obligations arising from sustainability legislation (including the Disclosure Regulation, EU taxonomy, sustainability reporting) 
  • Determination of emissions, risk factors, calculation/verification of KPIs
  • Assessment of sustainability risks and opportunities in the portfolio
     
Hartmut Müller

Hartmut Müller

Partner

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General information on ESG

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance and describes criteria that are used in order to assess the sustainability and ethical impact of an investment or a company. These criteria are increasingly being taken into account by investors and companies in order to promote responsible and sustainable business practices.

1. Environmental: This aspect covers the environmental impact of a company, such as its energy consumption, CO2 emissions, waste management, water use and impact on biodiversity. The aim is to promote environmentally friendly and sustainable practices.

2. Social: This aspect addresses a company’s social impact, including working conditions, human rights, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, and commitment in the community. This area aims to ensure fair and ethical practices within and outside the company.

3. Governance: This aspect relates to corporate management and structures, such as the composition of the Board of Directors, business ethics, transparency, bribery and corruption, and relations with shareholders. Good governance practices should ensure accountability and integrity in business conduct.

Overall, ESG serves to identify long-term risks and opportunities and to promote sustainable development in companies and investments.
 

The EU taxonomy is authoritative and defines the term “sustainability”. It takes into account a classification of “green” or “sustainable” activities of companies based on six goals and four criteria. All six goals have been mandatory since January 2023. They are implemented in various other laws that address different areas of application and user groups.

This implementation is reflected in non-financial statements and sustainability reports. Companies falling under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) or the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) must disclose taxonomy-relevant and taxonomy-compliant activities. Important key performance indicators (KPIs) include the proportion of taxonomy-compliant activities in turnover, capital expenditure and operating costs. The user group is being expanded in line with the CSRD.

Emission sources

Emissions form the basis for the decarbonization strategy of companies and their ESG criteria. In order to be successful, companies must first be able to identify their main sources of emissions, define them correctly and categorize them into Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. This enables them to calculate their own CO2 emissions and derive specific measures. Although this is a major challenge, it is a crucial step in setting and achieving reduction targets and making their own contribution to climate protection.