The vast majority of companies have not postponed their sustainability efforts – ESG survey of domestic companies

According to the results of the BCSDH survey, the incentive power of regulatory compliance has increased significantly in recent times. In 2025, legal requirements will be the main motivation for incorporating ESG aspects, in addition to which compliance with owner expectations and the needs of customers and customers are also increasingly emphasized.

“Despite the changes in reporting regulations, the majority of companies are not slowing down: more than half of the leading companies have expanded their ESG capacities and are continuing the sustainability developments they have started earlier. In the next two years, the majority of companies will further develop their ESG activities and reporting according to the planned schedule. Overall, the survey indicates that Hungarian companies are committed to moving towards more sustainable and transparent operations.”

– summarized the future plans of the companies.

The majority of companies are preparing to expand the scope of their ESG activities in the next two years, and the majority of companies are also progressing in the area of ​​reporting according to the planned schedule. In the case of large companies and SMEs, few are taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the postponement, and the minority of companies are also waiting for the regulatory decision before deciding on their ESG reporting.

“The results show that 87 percent of the companies surveyed feel prepared to meet the requirements of the CSRD and ESG Act, which is a significant improvement compared to the 2023 data. There has been a clear increase in the recognition of the business benefits of ESG among the companies that completed the survey. 91 percent of companies believe that ESG certification provides a competitive advantage, and 87 percent believe that better ESG performance will become an even more decisive business aspect by 2027. Small and medium-sized enterprises perceive this benefit even more strongly than large companies. Employee engagement and better management of ESG risks continue to be a key benefit for those surveyed.”

– highlighted Ágnes Deme, Senior Manager at KPMG.

Companies now have more mature goals and active implementation programs in the areas of social and corporate governance. This is in line with the results of the latest survey, which also identified these areas as particularly important. In the area of ​​human value, 55 percent are actively implementing their objectives in the areas of working conditions, equal treatment and employee well-being. In the environmental area, they typically deal with the topics of carbon emissions, energy use and waste management, and this is where the largest proportion of plans for future developments appear, with 31 percent of respondents planning to set objectives in the area of ​​biodiversity, for example, and more than 25 percent planning to set objectives in relation to climate adaptation. After all, 70 percent of companies identify climate change as a threat, while 80 percent of the companies that completed the survey see climate adaptation as a commercially profitable activity.

In summary, the survey shows that companies are aware of the impact of climate change on their operations and feel the need for systemic changes. 90% agree that the real challenge to achieving the green transition and sustainability goals is not technology, but economics and a change in mindset.