Sdu is a service provider that makes laws and regulations accessible and applicable to various target groups, including ESG professionals. At Sdu’s innovation department, a multidisciplinary team works on translating the CSRD into practical tools with smart solutions for professionals. They are supported in this by the Empact team in terms of content.
To interpret laws and regulations for practical application
We engage in conversation with Leonoor de Kruif and Janine Heemskerk, who are the brains behind these products along with Chief Innovation manager Esther van Doesburg. What is immediately noticeable is that the energy radiates from them. It soon becomes clear that the subject of ESG and thus the CSRD resonates tremendously with them. Janine even took the CSRD book on vacation with her. Where Janine, as a true beta, wants to know all the details, Leonoor’s strength lies in the translation into understandable language. She listens carefully to experts and clients. This way she makes a good match between the needs of clients and the core of the legislation.
“Sustainability becomes the new currency”
The Sdu team’s theoretical knowledge was all right. What was still missing was the bit of experience in the practical application of the CSRD and guiding companies. With Empact on board, that gap was filled. Janine: “The CSRD is still so new, so everyone is learning at the same time.” There is a nice win-win to this collaboration, because on the one hand, Sdu can integrate the lessons Empact learns in practice in real time into their knowledge products, and on the other hand, Empact can make more of an impact because of Sdu’s reach into hundreds of companies.
Practice notes, reviews and trainings
Empact is closely involved in the development of several of Sdu’s products. For example, 10 practice notes have now been published: in-depth guides on a variety of ESG topics, accompanied by one or two templates that enable readers to immediately translate them to their own situation. The practice notes now form a substantial volume and cover topics including:
- Plan of action CSRD
- ESG strategy
- Operationalization of ESG goals
- ESG and SMEs
- The value chain and the CSRD
- Conducting a dual materiality analysis
In addition, Empact is conducting a review of the software used by Sdu and is helping to improve information on European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) in Sdu’s knowledge base. In the near future, we will also start providing training on ESG: on behalf of Sdu, Empact will provide this to ESG professionals.
“Without Empact, the knowledge product and workflow would not have been as good.”
Lessons from practice with wide reach
In terms of philosophy, Sdu and Empact are in the same game: make as much impact as possible themselves and enable companies to do the same. So not only compliance, but also strategic commitment to real sustainable change. The cooperation is extra powerful because there is a strong mutual click and everyone is full of ideas to make even more products that are even more relevant.
“Our market research indicates a tremendous need for interpretation and awareness of what sustainability means. That fits the phase we are all in.” Says Leonoor. Meanwhile, with the help of Empact and others, Sdu has developed a nice package for ESG professionals: a starter kit, intended for initial awareness, training courses to deepen the understanding and an extensive knowledge base for support on every topic.
Continuing to work together
And there is still plenty in the pipeline for long-term cooperation. Leonoor: “As we move forward, new needs will arise among the various target groups and for that we really need Empact. It is very nice that Empact is a reliable partner, they deliver on time and above expectations. They not only deliver what we have asked for, but also think along themselves and make connections between the different products.” Empact’s input not only finds its way into Sdu’s knowledge products, but, as mentioned, is also integrated into the software platform that Sdu has developed. ESG courses also use the models and templates developed by Empact. “Without Empact, the knowledge product and the workflow would not have been as good.”
“It is very nice that Empact is a reliable partner, they deliver on time and above expectations.”Invest in knowledge and collaborations
When asked what is the biggest insight they have gained since the publication of the CSRD, Janine says they learned that the scope of the CSRD is so large that no one can have in-depth knowledge of all topics. “Each topic is its own specialty so you really have to collaborate with different disciplines and experts. It’s nice to see that new collaborations emerge as a result.”
“Make a start, get trained and invest in knowledge.”
Janine says that every company has to deal with this, no matter how big or small you are. “Sooner rather than later, there are going to be questions from customers and suppliers about sustainability. If you don’t know then what the background of the question is, you’re going to miss the boat. Sustainability is going to be the new currency.” So their advice is, “Make a start, get educated and invest in knowledge. Only when you delve into the subject matter do you see how broad and how deep it is.”
And the cooperation between Sdu and Empact? “That will hopefully continue for a very long time, because Empact takes our products and services to a high level.”