This article explores how C2C Certified® aligns with CSRD and VSME requirements, enabling European companies to streamline ESG reporting while enhancing credibility and competitiveness.
How product-level certification strengthens company-level sustainability reporting under EU regulations
As sustainability reporting becomes a regulatory imperative across Europe, companies are seeking reliable frameworks to meet the requirements of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Voluntary Standards for SME’s (VSME). Cradle to Cradle Certified® (C2C Certified®) offers a robust product-level certification that can significantly ease the data collection and verification burden for these reporting standards.
1. CSRD, VSME, and C2C Certified®: Alignment for EU Companies
The CSRD requires large and listed companies in the EU (and beyond) to disclose sustainability performance in line with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The VSME standard provides a lighter, but ESRS-aligned, framework for small and medium-sized enterprises that are not directly covered by CSRD.
The C2C Certified® Product Standard, managed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII), primarily focuses on product sustainability. Yet it also integrates company-level requirements—such as environmental management and human rights policies—that can be directly applied to CSRD and VSME reporting.
2. How C2C Certified® Bridges Product and Company-Level Reporting
While CSRD and VSME emphasize company-wide disclosures, C2C Certified® offers verified product data that can be scaled up. For example:
Scope 1 & 2 emissions, water use, and circularity metrics collected at product level can be aggregated for company-wide reporting.
Public disclosure requirements within C2C Certified® align with CSRD’s focus on transparency.
Third-party verification ensures compliance with the EU Green Claims Directive, reducing the risk of greenwashing.
By using C2C Certified® data, companies can turn detailed product metrics into a foundation for credible, company-level ESG disclosures.
3.Strategic Advantages for ESG Reporting
Companies with C2C Certified® products are better equipped to comply with EU sustainability reporting standards because they benefit from:
Pre-existing ESG data collection: Much of the information required under CSRD is already gathered during certification.
Third-party verification: Builds credibility with regulators, investors, and stakeholders.
Alignment with ESRS: Ensures smoother integration into EU-mandated reports.
Market credibility: Enhances reputation with European stakeholders who demand transparency.
Public Disclosure Requirements under C2C Certified®
Transparency is a core principle of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Standard. To achieve certification, companies must publicly disclose data across several areas, supporting compliance with CSRD and the EU Green Claims Directive:
Circularity Data & Cycling Instructions: Reports and guidance on how products can be reused, recycled, or returned at end-of-life.
GHG Emissions: Public disclosure of facility-level or product-level emissions data, with higher certification levels requiring full embodied carbon transparency.
Environmental Policy: Integration into company management systems, with recommended public disclosure to demonstrate accountability.
Human Rights Policy: Based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ILO Core Conventions, supported by risk assessments across operations and supply chains, with disclosure strongly recommended.
Comply with CSRD Using Cradle to Cradle Certified®
To help companies navigate CSRD requirements, the C2CPII has developed a dedicated guide mapping how the C2C Certified® Product Standard aligns with European sustainability regulations. This resource provides practical insights into data collection, verification, and disclosure—particularly valuable for organizations aiming to streamline compliance while avoiding greenwashing risks.
Conclusion
Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a strategic ally for companies navigating CSRD and VSME reporting in Europe. By leveraging verified product-level data, organizations can simplify compliance, enhance transparency, and build credibility with regulators, investors, and customers.
💡 Sustenuto helps companies integrate C2C Certified® data into their sustainability strategies—ensuring compliance with European regulations while creating real impact.
Learn about our related services:
