PwC survey reveals 79% of Dutch companies confident in CSRD Readiness, reshaping business decisions across Europe.
As companies across the European Union prepare to report under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), a new survey by PwC reveals that the increased focus on sustainability disclosures is leading businesses to give more weight to environmental and social factors in their decision-making processes.
The CSRD, which significantly expands sustainability reporting requirements for thousands of companies operating in the EU, is driving a shift in corporate mindsets and practices around sustainability.
The CSRD aims to improve the quality, consistency and comparability of sustainability information reported by companies in the EU. It requires detailed disclosures on environmental impacts, social issues, and governance practices. The directive is being phased in starting with large public-interest companies in 2024 (reporting in 2025), expanding to all large companies in 2025, and listed SMEs in 2026.
According to PwC’s Global CSRD Survey 2024, which polled over 500 companies across more than 30 countries, Dutch businesses are leading the pack in terms of readiness and confidence for CSRD implementation. A striking 79% of Dutch respondents expect to be fully prepared to report on their sustainability performance in accordance with the new directive by the required deadline. This far exceeds the global average of 63% reported in the survey.
“Indeed, we see that most companies that start working with the CSRD come to appreciate the rationale behind it more,” said Alexander Spek, responsible for the Sustainability practice at PwC Netherlands. “They find it quite a reporting challenge, but they also appreciate the new insights and focus on sustainability topics that may have been underexposed before.”
The survey results suggest that Dutch companies’ optimism is well-founded, as they are making significant progress in key preparatory steps. Over half (54%) have completed the confirmation of reporting options and exceptions, while 64% have already conducted the mandatory double materiality analysis. These figures compare favorably to global averages, where only about a third of companies have completed these critical steps.
Interestingly, the survey found that confidence in CSRD readiness increases as companies progress further in their implementation journey. Businesses reporting for the first time in 2025 expressed more optimism than those set to begin reporting in 2026, indicating that hands-on experience with the requirements alleviates initial apprehensions.
Karin Meijer, a sustainability reporting specialist at PwC, emphasises the importance of early preparation: “To keep this challenge manageable and to understand exactly what is expected, it is important to start as early as possible with the right team.”
Despite the overall confidence, Dutch companies still face significant hurdles in their CSRD implementation. The top challenges cited include data availability and quality, supply chain complexity, and human resource constraints. Between 50-60% of respondents identified these factors as major obstacles.
The survey also revealed an interesting trend in the scope of sustainability reporting among Dutch companies. While they express high confidence in reporting on traditional sustainability themes like employee matters, climate change, and business conduct, a significant portion (one-third to half) of respondents indicated that newer topics such as impacts on communities, biodiversity, and ecosystems were not applicable or in scope for their reporting. This contrasts with the comprehensive approach envisioned by the CSRD and may indicate a need for further guidance or clarification on these emerging sustainability issues.
Importantly, the PwC survey highlights the transformative potential of the CSRD beyond mere compliance. Two-thirds of Dutch respondents stated that the directive is prompting them to incorporate sustainability considerations more deeply into their decision-making processes. This suggests that the CSRD is achieving its broader goal of driving sustainable business practices.
The increased focus on sustainability is also reflected in the involvement of various business functions in CSRD implementation. Nearly all Dutch companies reported engagement from finance departments and board members, significantly higher than the international average. In almost half of Dutch firms, the finance department is taking the lead on CSRD implementation.
Willem Jan Dubois, a PwC expert, argues that this responsibility should indeed lie with finance, given its role in external reporting. However, he stresses the importance of cross-functional collaboration: “It is crucial that there is good interaction with those responsible for strategy, sustainability, compliance and the business itself. Only then will you get an accurate and relevant report that the entire organisation can agree on.”
As the CSRD implementation deadline approaches in the EU, the survey results offer a snapshot of where companies stand in their preparations. While Dutch businesses appear to be at the forefront of readiness, the journey towards comprehensive sustainability reporting is ongoing for many firms across Europe. The coming years will likely see continued evolution in corporate sustainability practices as companies adapt to the new reporting landscape shaped by the CSRD.
(Photo by: Christian Lue)
