By June 30, the affected companies must prepare their certified ESG-reports. For many companies, it is now becoming a truly practical question how well-organised their ESG-data are, how traceable their internal processes are, and whether they will be able to find an accredited ESG-certifier in time.

There is visible uncertainty in the market. Companies are preparing for reporting at the same time, while certification capacity is still developing. In this situation, it is particularly important that preparation is not left to the final weeks.

Our sustainability team, which has gained significant experience in recent years in carbon footprint calculation, EHS-data and the assurance of sustainability reports, was among the first to obtain ESG-certification accreditation.

What can be expected?

• By June 30, the affected companies must prepare a certified ESG-report.
• Certification capacity may be limited, so timing may become a business risk.
• ESG-certification examines whether the statements in the report are supported by data, evidence and a consistent methodology.
• With good preparation, certification is not only a compliance task, but also useful management feedback.
• Grant Thornton supports companies in the process as an accredited ESG-certifier.

Why is ESG-certification now coming into focus?

For a long time, the ESG-report seemed more like a reporting task. Certification, however, creates a different situation: it is not enough to present the company’s sustainability performance; it must also be supported by appropriate data and documents.

This is particularly challenging when ESG-information comes from several organisational units, is available in different formats, or has no clearly defined owner responsible for data collection. In such cases, certification quickly shows where the system works well and where clarification is needed.

The June 30 deadline will therefore be the first real test for many companies of how far ESG-data management has been integrated into operations.

What does the ESG-certifier examine?

The purpose of ESG-certification is to independently confirm that the statements included in the company’s ESG-report comply with the criteria defined by law.

The certifier examines whether the statements in the ESG-report:

• are free from material misstatement,
• can be traced back to original data,
• are supported by evidence,
• are based on a consistent methodology.

The assessment may also cover the content and formal compliance of the ESG-report, the accuracy of completed ESG- and supplier questionnaires, and the operation of the applied risk management system.

The materiality assessment is also an important element. It shows whether the company is truly focusing on the environmental, social and governance topics that have a material impact from the perspective of its operations and stakeholders.

How does the certification process work?

ESG-certification consists of several steps and starts even before the cooperation begins.

In the preparation phase, conflicts of interest are reviewed, the scope of the engagement is defined, and a preliminary risk assessment is carried out. This helps determine the focus and resource needs of the certification.

This is followed by contract signing and notification to the authority. In the planning phase, a readiness assessment is prepared, and based on this, the certification plan is developed. This sets out the schedule, the areas to be examined and the methodology to be applied.

During implementation, document analysis, interviews and an on-site visit take place. Based on the evidence collected, a professional conclusion is prepared, which forms the basis of the certification report.

The process is closed by an independent review. In the case of a positive result, the company receives an ESG-certificate, which is valid for five years.

Where do companies usually get stuck?

In certification, the greatest difficulty is often not the writing of the report itself, but the traceability of the data.

Common questions include:

• exactly where the given ESG-data comes from;
• who approved it;
• what methodology was used to calculate it;
• whether there is documented evidence behind it;
• whether the same logic was applied throughout the entire report.

If there is no quick and clear answer to these questions, certification may become more time-consuming. This is why it is worth assessing at the beginning of the process how ready the organisation is for the review.

Why is certification useful beyond compliance?

A certified ESG-report builds trust among investors, clients and business partners. It also provides valuable feedback to management on how reliable the sustainability data are and where internal processes should be improved.

Certification helps filter out uncertain statements, strengthens data quality, and makes responsibilities clearer. This is particularly important where ESG-data already play a role in financing, procurement or reputational decisions.

In sustainability communication, what is verified has increasing value. ESG-certification provides a point of reference here: it helps separate intention from provable performance.

Why is it important to choose a certifier in time?

In the coming period, several companies may be preparing for the certification of their ESG-reports at the same time. This may create a practical risk because of certification capacity, especially for those who start the process late.

Choosing an accredited certifier is not merely a procurement matter. The partner must understand the regulatory environment, corporate data processes and the business logic behind ESG-reports.

Grant Thornton’s ESG-certification methodology is based on the MSZ EN ISO/IEC 17029:2020 and MSZ EN ISO 14065:2022 standards, as well as the relevant Hungarian legal environment. This ensures that certification is a controlled, consistent and professionally grounded process.

Prepare for ESG-certification in time

If your company is affected by the June 30 deadline, it is worth reviewing the status of your ESG-data, internal processes and responsibilities now.

Grant Thornton, as an accredited ESG-certifier, supports its clients in the preparation and in carrying out the certification process. Contact our experts so that we can clarify the next steps in time.