On 11 July, the European Commission adopted the so-called “Quick fix” delegated act. The purpose of the act is to simplify the sustainability reporting for companies covered by the new CSRD requirements as early as 2025 – the so-called wave 1 companies. But what does “Quick fix” mean in practice? Jenny Fransson, Practice Lead Sustainability Affairs, clarifies what applies under the current rules.
On 11 July, the European Commission adopted the so-called “Quick fix” delegated act. The purpose of the act is to simplify the sustainability reporting for companies covered by the new CSRD requirements as early as 2025 – the so-called wave 1 companies. But what does “Quick fix” mean in practice? Jenny Fransson, Practice Lead Sustainability Affairs, clarifies what applies under the current rules.
What does “Quick fix” mean?
“Put simply, “Quick fix” allows companies reporting in 2025 and 2026 to use simplified reporting rules for certain standards and disclosures. (For details of what the simplifications cover, read more here.) The main beneficiaries are companies that paused their preparations following the Omnibus package and the “Stop-the-clock” decision, but which are now required to begin reporting in 2025. For them, “Quick fix” is extremely welcome! That’s because the reporting, and thus the data collection, won’t need to be as extensive and detailed. Companies that have already prepared their sustainability reporting for this year probably don’t need the option of simplified reporting right now. However, they still have the possibility to apply the simplified rules if they don’t manage to get all the way with their data collection before year-end.”
Do you see any challenges with the new act?
“No, not with “Quick fix” itself. But the purpose of the act can be misunderstood. Even though reporting is simplified for several standards and disclosures, companies still need to report on these if they are material. Take the standard “E2 Pollution” as an example, a standard covered by “Quick fix”. If pollution is a material issue for a company, that standard still must be reported on, but in a more general context than the current ESRS prescribes. The standard cannot simply be excluded from the reporting. This is something not everyone may be aware of. I also think that CSRD and ESRS in general pose a challenge for many companies. There’s a lot that needs to be reported, even if the revised ESRS are said to reduce the number of data points by up to 70 percent. Many companies have made significant investments in processes, routines, consultant support, and hired resources to tackle all the new reporting requirements. It may seem that all those efforts are losing relevance with the introduction of “Quick fix”. But sustainability reporting remains relevant and will continue to do so, even if the EU’s focus on climate and sustainability issues has been partly overshadowed by geopolitical issues over the past two years.”
How should the wave 1 companies think?
“I think it’s important to emphasize that “Quick fix” only means a simplification of reporting requirements for certain standards and disclosures while we wait for the revised ESRS. The requirements do not disappear. Not this year, not in 2026, and not beyond. That’s why it’s important for wave 1 companies to continue setting up structures and processes for collecting data and information on their material sustainability topics. I think you should apply “Quick fix” if needed. One tip is to use “Quick fix” to get an approximate idea of what data and information will remain in the revised ESRS. If any of the affected standards are material, you should prioritize those to ensure proper reporting. A lot has happened around CSRD and ESRS during 2025, and it’s easy to feel a bit tired from all the back-and-forth. But “Quick fix” offers the chance to pause for a moment and bring some order and calm ahead of 2026. That’s worth keeping in mind.”
Need support with your ESRS reporting?
Whether it’s interpreting “Quick fix”, managing complex data points, writing texts that meet disclosure and data requirements, or running the entire process – we can help. Last year we developed content for nearly 50 reports inspired by CSRD and ESRS. We have the tools, experience, and methods to make your work more efficient. Contact Jenny Fransson at jenny.fransson@halvarsson.se.