Companies are facing entirely new regulatory challenges. If you need to produce a sustainability report, you’re probably looking for an efficient and modern solution. The days of rigid and unwieldy documents are over. With Novamag we offer you a platform to present your environmental and social initiatives interactively. In this article, you’ll find out everything you need to know about the current legal requirements. We’ll show you the best structure to use and explain how to tackle this often complex task digitally and effectively.
What is a sustainability report and what are the CSRD requirements?
A sustainability report documents a company’s specific impact on the environment and society. It provides vital transparency for investors, customers and employees. Until now, this legal obligation has mainly applied to large, capital-market-oriented corporations. That is now changing drastically.
Under the EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), this requirement is becoming mandatory for many more companies. From the financial years 2025 and 2026 onwards, this requirement will increasingly apply to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well. Novamag positions itself as your fast and efficient self-service solution. This enables you to meet the growing legal requirements professionally and without any detours.
Start your sustainability report with the project template - including layout, page structure and design. Simply adapt the colours, fonts and content to suit your organisation and turn it into your very own digital sustainability report.
Start your sustainability report now and use our template
With Novamag you create your digital sustainability report to present your measures, goals and progress transparently - clearly structured, informative and with a focus on responsibility and the future.
Key content: ESG categories and GRI standards
Your report must meet certain mandatory criteria in terms of both form and content. These are based on what are known as ESG categories. This acronym stands for Environment, Social and Governance. You therefore report on environmental protection, your social responsibility and transparent corporate governance.
To ensure these topics can be compared across organisations, many organisations use international standards. The guidelines set out by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) are particularly well established in this regard. Measurable indicators are an absolutely central component of your report. Show exactly how much energy your company saves, what its CO₂ emissions are, or how diversity is developing within your teams.
The ideal layout and structure
A clear and logical structure is essential for readability. It is best to begin your document with a foreword from senior management. This foreword emphasises the strategic importance of the topic across the entire organisation. Then briefly outline your business model.
In the main body, it makes sense to organise the content according to the ESG criteria mentioned. Describe specific targets and openly highlight milestones already achieved. Challenges may also be addressed honestly here. Finally, an outlook on future measures and planned investments in sustainability rounds off the document.
Your interactive sustainability report with Novamag
Publishing as a static PDF file is no longer in keeping with the times. Such files are very difficult to read on mobile devices and do not provide a good user experience. With Novamag, you can transform your publication into a truly responsive web experience. The design adapts automatically to all screen sizes.
You choose a professional template and easily add your content via the editor. Interactive charts make complex key figures easy for your readers to understand. Depending on the package you’ve booked, you’ll also benefit from detailed analytics features. You can see exactly which chapters are being read most closely. This format combines perfectly with your annual report or an accompanying white paper. For further tips on content design, please visit our blog. Get started today with Novamag and fulfil your CSRD obligations in a digital and modern way.
Further references for digital magazines
Novamag offers a wide range of options for bringing content to life digitally. Take a look at our references and be inspired by our digital magazines.
Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra
Seasonal brochure
For many people, our world – the world of music at the Kulturpalast with the Dresden Philharmonic – is a ‘New World’.
Averio
Train lines
Arverio Bayern has published the third edition of its digital passenger magazine just in time for autumn. ZUGZEILEN 2025 offers exciting stories, tips for excursions and interesting insights into the world of rail travel.
Orthomol
Orthomol life
Four times a year, Orthomol Life brings you information on nutrition, exercise, mental resilience and mindful living – complemented by practical tips and insights into the world of Orthomol.
Questions and answers on sustainability reports
Everything you need to know about the creation, content, benefits and tools for sustainability reports.
A sustainability report is a document in which a company describes how it acts in an environmentally, socially and economically responsible manner. It shows, for example, what measures are taken to protect the environment or how employees and resources are handled.
Companies prepare these reports to provide transparent information about their actions. They want to show that they take responsibility and operate sustainably. At the same time, the reports serve to build trust with customers, investors and the public.
The target group includes investors, customers, employees, environmental organisations and political institutions. Anyone who is interested in how responsibly a company operates uses these reports as a source of information.
Typical content includes environmental measures (e.g. CO₂ reduction), social aspects (e.g. working conditions), corporate governance, targets and progress made. Figures, diagrams and specific examples are also often presented.
Sustainability means that a company acts in such a way that resources are conserved and future generations also have good living conditions. This involves striking a balance between the environment, the economy and society.
Annual reports concentrate primarily on financial figures and economic success. Sustainability reports, on the other hand, focus on the environment, social responsibility and the long-term effects of the company's actions.
Yes, many companies orientate themselves on international standards such as those of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). These help to make the reports comparable and comprehensible.
Yes, many companies publish their reports online as PDFs or on interactive websites. Digital formats make it possible to present content more vividly, for example with videos, graphics or interactive elements.
They improve a company's image and demonstrate responsibility towards the environment and society. They can also attract investors who value sustainable behaviour and help to fulfil legal requirements.
One disadvantage is the high level of effort required to create them, as a lot of data has to be collected and analysed. There is also a risk of "greenwashing" if companies present their measures in a better light than they actually are.
Inspire your readers
Novamag test free of charge
Create unique digital magazines with little effort. Novamag offers you all the tools you need to inspire your readers with your content.