Why we report – even when we are not required to
We could simply say: “No reporting obligation? Then no report.” But that is not how we work at SPIES. For years, we have published sustainability reports in line with the German Sustainability Code – voluntarily, and as a structured tool for making progress visible. Therefore, for us it was clear: just because the legal thresholds have been raised, we will not set the issue aside.
From ‘obligation’ to ‘commitment’
When the first draft of the CSRD was released, we met two of the three thresholds and would therefore have been obliged to report. So we got started: discussing, planning, researching, preparing. A team was established, tools were evaluated, and topics such as double materiality and the ESRS were explored in depth. Then came the turnaround: with the Omnibus Regulation, the thresholds were raised and many companies – including ours – lost their reporting obligation. This led to a key question: do we want to continue reporting despite no longer being required to? Our answer: absolutely! Not because we do everything perfectly, but because transparency and a reliable framework help to systematically promote sustainability within the company.
Why the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard (VSME)?
We opted for the VSME. This was not a step taken out of the blue: through the DNK, we already had many years of experience with voluntary reporting. However, with the CSRD, the expectations and complexity are increasing. Medium-sized companies in particular need practical standards that provide guidance without being overwhelming. For us, the VSME is exactly that standard:
• based on the ESRS,
• practical and accessible,
• suitable for gaining experience and gradually expanding along the ESRS.
2024: Our first VSME report
For the 2024 reporting year, we will report according to the VSME standard for the first time. We want to show where we stand – and be open about where we do not yet as well. Because credible sustainability is about continuous progress, not flawless presentation.
Responsibility does not require obligation
In the end, it is not about regulations, but about whether one takes an issue seriously. We have decided: sustainability reporting is part of who we are, even without a legal requirement!
