ESG criteria are becoming increasingly important in the assessment of the sustainability of economic activities. Comprehensive legislative initiatives have already been implemented in the EU, in particular the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). These directives impose sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations.

Swiss Economics analysed the developments in the ESG area in Europe and their potential impact on Switzerland. It focussed in particular on the specific content of the EU directives and the question of whether Switzerland should adopt corresponding regulatory changes and possible solutions for Swiss SMEs to protect them from excessive bureaucracy.