Sustainability Insights
CSRD Adoption in the DAX40: A Second-Year Assessment
- Ann-Kristin Großkopf
- Lea Hagemeier
- Katharina Hombach
- Maximilian A. Müller
- Thorsten Sellhorn
- Victor Wagner
- ESRS
- Disclosure
- SRN
The analysis of DAX40 firms examines how sustainability reporting is evolving in the second year of CSRD application. The results suggest a shift from expansion to consolidation: on average, 2025 sustainability reports are slightly shorter than in 2024, with companies making disclosures more focused and streamlined rather than further increasing volume.
We also observe differences across topics. Environmental disclosures continue to grow modestly, while social and other sections become leaner. At the same time, many firms are improving reporting quality through restatements, clearer structures, and reduced redundancies. Only a small share introduce major structural changes or rely extensively on quick-fix reliefs.
Overall, the findings point to ongoing refinement of CSRD reporting, with firms gradually stabilizing their reporting practices in the second year of application.
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