Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1540425
34 PCB007 MAGAZINE I OCTOBER 2025 F E AT U R E A RT I C L E by M a r i n a H o r n a s e k- M et z l , AT&S AG Caught in the ESG Crossfire: Transparency, Comparability, and Impact In the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility, Environmental, Social, and Gov- ernance (ESG) reporting has be- come a cornerstone of stakeholder communication. Yet, as organiza- tions strive to meet growing reg- ulatory and investor demands, they find themselves caught be- tween the need for robust ESG disclosure, the persistent lack of comparability across reports, and the elusive goal of translat- ing ESG efforts into tangible busi- ness value. The Reporting Imperative Driven by frameworks like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the U.S. SEC's climate disclosure rules (though currently not being enforced in the U.S.), and global standards by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), ESG reporting is no longer optional. Companies must disclose not only their envi- ronmental footprint but also their social impact and governance practices. This shift serves to fos- ter transparency, accountability, and long-term thinking. However, the proliferation of standards and metrics creates a fragmented reporting environ- ment. While convergence efforts are underway, many organizations still must navigate overlapping frameworks, varying stakeholder expectations, and inconsistent def- initions. Looking at the classifica- tion of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) from a Registra- tion, Evaluation, Authorisation,