In this roundtable discussion, panellists explored the evolving relationship between ESG disclosures and corporate due diligence as the UK prepares to implement the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS). With ongoing reforms to the EU’s sustainability reporting and due diligence regimes, the discussion examined how transparency and accountability frameworks can support better business decision-making, strengthen investor confidence and contribute to long-term value creation. Participants also considered the importance of balancing robust reporting requirements with proportionality and practical implementation.
Key contributors:
Members of the panel agreed that disclosures and due diligence should be viewed as complementary tools: one providing transparency and the other driving action across organisations and supply chains. Discussion focused on the growing convergence between investor-focused reporting standards, such as the ISSB framework, and broader impact-based approaches reflected in GRI and the EU’s double materiality model. The conversation also explored the need to frame sustainability as a driver of resilience, innovation and long-term value creation rather than simply a compliance exercise. Participants identified several practical challenges, including the complexity facing SMEs, the fragmentation of international reporting frameworks, uncertainty surrounding the future of the EU’s CSRD and CSDDD, and the need to ensure that technological solutions such as AI are supported by strong governance and high-quality data. The panel suggested that effective sustainability reporting should enhance competitiveness by improving risk management, strengthening market confidence and supporting better strategic decision-making.
