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Sustainability and ESG

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) is a framework for assessing the sustainability of corporate operations. It is playing an increasingly prominent role in the business world through both domestic and European Union regulations. Companies are under growing pressure to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their operations—not only to ensure long-term business success, but also to comply with legal requirements.

The range of companies required to prepare ESG and sustainability reports is gradually expanding in Hungary as well, driven both by stakeholder expectations and by developments in the regulatory environment.

ESG and Sustainability – ESG Services
RSM Hungary has expanded its ESG and sustainability division and capacities through a strategic partnership and integration with the ESG division of Credit Management Group, one of the leading independent ESG advisory firms in Hungary.
As a result, our ESG Division can support companies in achieving their ESG objectives and fulfilling their obligations with the expertise, resources, and extensive experience of a top-tier international consultancy.

Whether it involves voluntary ESG compliance, preparation for regulatory ESG requirements, ESG reporting, sustainability report drafting, or even the audit of such reports, our ESG expert team is equipped to assist companies in clarifying their responsibilities and addressing related questions.
We have the necessary capacity and competence to support companies in all ESG-related tasks, including preparation and documentation.

Why choose RSM’s ESG services?

  • Our ESG division is led by a team of five ESG consultants accredited by SZTFH and four auditors certified in sustainability assurance. The division is co-headed by András Kozma and Ákos Schmidt, both of whom have several decades of senior leadership and professional experience in ESG and sustainability advisory.
  • Our expert team has successfully completed dozens of ESG readiness projects and prepared ESG and sustainability reports for clients across various sectors.
  • Our approach is centered on supporting our clients. Whether it involves strategic planning, sustainable finance, or green funding, we provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each partner.

ESG and Sustainability – ESG Services

RSM’s ESG and Sustainability advisory team supports the development of ESG strategies through comprehensive ESG consulting. In line with the upcoming double materiality reporting obligations, we assist clients with voluntary readiness, the preparation of ESG disclosures, and the drafting of sustainability reports.

We conduct the required Double Materiality Assessment and provide support for EU Taxonomy compliance.

Our auditors, who hold recognized sustainability assurance certifications, are equipped to perform limited assurance audits of sustainability reports for large enterprises.

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RSM ESG Division – Our Services

ESG Advisory – Developing ESG Strategies and Sustainability Objectives

Establishing an ESG strategy plays a key role in ensuring a company’s long-term sustainability and in meeting ESG reporting requirements. A robust ESG strategy is not only about regulatory compliance — it is also about building a values-based operational model that enhances market competitiveness, strengthens employer branding, and fosters trust among stakeholders.

Our experienced ESG consultants provide support in:

  • designing tailored ESG strategies,
  • defining sustainability goals and performance indicators,
  • developing and embedding ESG operational processes into day-to-day business activities.

Our ESG advisory services may include: formulation and review of ESG strategies, integration of ESG processes into core operations, identification of sustainability metrics, designing progress-tracking and feedback mechanisms, all of which support the development of either voluntary or mandatory ESG and sustainability disclosures.


Preparation of the ESG Report – Supporting Voluntary and Mandatory Compliance

The ESG report provides a structured overview of a company’s sustainability performance. Key focus areas include the ESG-based assessment of direct suppliers and the development and presentation of sustainability-related risk management systems. As of the 2024 financial year, the reporting obligation will first apply to large public-interest entities.

Our ESG advisors support our partners in preparing for compliance in line with ESG regulatory requirements. Throughout the process, we place special emphasis on ensuring that the ESG system developed is tailored to the company’s unique characteristics.

Voluntary ESG compliance is increasingly becoming a competitive advantage: through ESG preparedness, companies can anticipate future reporting requirements, enhance their reputation, strengthen their supplier positioning, and improve the credibility of their sustainability value proposition.

Our ESG consultants provide support in:

  • developing the data collection, processing, and reporting processes required for the report,

  • defining the company’s specific ESG objectives,

  • and establishing an internal reporting structure aligned with ESG legislation and international best practices.

Our consultants also assist in implementing voluntary reporting frameworks—particularly for companies that wish to take a proactive approach to ESG topics and communicate on these areas, regardless of whether a legal obligation applies to them.


Preparation of the Sustainability Report – Transparency and Value Creation

The Sustainability Report provides a comprehensive overview of a company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, impacts, and risks. Reporting is based on the European Union’s CSRD Directive and the ESRS standards, which establish unified expectations for the disclosure of non-financial information and build on the foundational principles of the GRI framework.

Starting from the 2024 financial year, the reporting obligation first applies to large public-interest entities. Later, it will extend to other companies as defined by legislation. For many businesses, voluntary compliance will also become relevant, offering an opportunity to prepare for future mandatory reporting.

Preparing a sustainability report is not merely a compliance task; it also offers a strategic opportunity to communicate corporate objectives, build stakeholder trust, ensure transparent risk management, and strengthen reputation.

Our advisors provide support in:

  • the structured and auditable preparation of the sustainability report in line with GRI and ESRS standards,
  • the consistent collection, analysis, and interpretation of ESG data,
  • and the development of a voluntary reporting practice tailored to the company’s operations – including optional pre-audit processes if needed.

RSM supports companies not only in achieving compliance, but also in building and demonstrating an authentic, proactive commitment to sustainability.


ESG Gap Assessment and Double Materiality Analysis

The ESG GAP analysis provides a comprehensive overview of a company’s current ESG performance, identifies regulatory, operational, and reputational risks, and offers guidance on improvement areas to help ensure compliance with ESG regulatory requirements.

The Double Materiality Assessment (DMA) is a cornerstone of ESG system development. It enables the precise identification of the most relevant ESG topics for the company, which will form the basis of both the ESG system and subsequent ESG reports.

As part of the materiality analysis, our experts engage with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure the identification of all material ESG topics, in line with the EU’s CSRD directive and Hungarian regulatory requirements, drawing on their prior experience and established industry best practices. The resulting materiality matrix becomes a fundamental component of a reliable and transparent Sustainability Report and ESG Disclosure—whether mandatory or voluntary.


Supporting Suppliers in Meeting ESG Requirements – ESG Questionnaires and Certifications

Many companies encounter ESG expectations in their role as suppliers. Our ESG consultants assist such businesses by:

  • Relying on their industry-specific and sustainability-related expertise, our ESG advisors effectively support companies in achieving supplier ESG compliance and obtaining ESG certifications.
  • We guide suppliers through the process of responding to ESG and sustainability questionnaires (e.g. the Ecovadis questionnaire).
  • We prepare the ESG documentation required to demonstrate the company’s sustainability performance, helping ensure the continuity of supplier relationships and uninterrupted operations.

RSM's objective is to help supplier ESG compliance become not only a requirement but also a growth opportunity and a credible positioning tool for our partners.

Supplier ESG Due Diligence and ESG Compliance

ESG-based supply chain assessment remains one of the most important tools for companies seeking to reduce sustainability risks within their operations. The RSM ESG team supports supplier networks' due diligence, contributing to the minimization of supplier-related ESG risks and the achievement of sustainability goals.

Our ESG consultants assist in defining supplier screening criteria, preparing supporting documentation, articulating expectations, and developing the assessment framework for evaluating supplier performance.


ESG Workshops and Internal Training

Our ESG consultants deliver ESG workshops and training to help stakeholders within companies understand and apply ESG principles. These sessions provide a comprehensive overview of the ESG/sustainability framework, the applicable regulations, and their practical implementation. The events and trainings may cover a broad ESG scope or focus on specific thematic areas, such as ESG in HR or ESG training for suppliers.


Audit of the Sustainability Report

Our team of auditors, certified in sustainability assurance, conducts audits of sustainability reports prepared by companies based on EU Directive 2022/2464, in accordance with the ISAE 3000 standard and applicable legal regulations.

Audit of the Sustainability Report Our team of auditors, certified in sustainability assurance, conducts audits of sustainability reports prepared by companies based on EU Directive 2022/2464, in accordance with the ISAE 3000 standard and applicable legal regulations.


Other ESG-Related Assurance Services

Our sustainability-certified auditors perform assurance engagements in line with current legal requirements on various sustainability-related reports, such as carbon footprint calculations or LUCID completeness declarations, and prepare assurance reports based on ISAE 3000 and ISAE 3410 standards.

We also place strong emphasis on companies that voluntarily disclose ESG data to strengthen their market position or prepare for future ESG-related regulations. These assurance services contribute to ensuring that ESG data is reliable, comparable, and auditable, regardless of whether reporting and auditing are mandatory at the given time.


Experience and Comprehensive ESG Expertise – ESG Advisory and ESG Audit

Build your company’s future with the support of ESG!

For large enterprises, ESG compliance is no longer optional—it is a legal obligation. But for truly competitive companies, ESG means more than just compliance: sustainability, transparency, and social responsibility have become strategic drivers in business, reputation, and employer branding.

Whether your company is subject to mandatory ESG reporting or taking a voluntary approach, we are here to support you.

Get in touch with our ESG advisory team and let’s shape the responsible company of the future—together.

With the expertise of our Hungarian ESG professionals and the support of RSM’s international ESG hubs, we offer clients access to comprehensive know-how and the latest global best practices. Our ESG experts help clients respond proactively to an evolving regulatory environment and unlock the business opportunities within voluntary ESG compliance.


ESG Regulation in Hungary

The rules governing ESG reporting are defined by Act CVIII of 2023, commonly referred to as the ESG Act. The legislation is based on the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD),which outlines the key principles for corporate sustainability due diligence obligations. The Hungarian act builds on this by placing particular emphasis on the due diligence of direct suppliers and the identification and management of sustainability risks.

Companies subject to ESG reporting requirements must submit their ESG report separately from their financial statements. In the first year of the obligation, the ESG report must undergo pre-audit, but will not yet be made public. In future years, audited ESG reports will become publicly accessible to stakeholders.


Sustainability Report and the Accounting Act

The sustainability report must be prepared as part of the financial statements but disclosed in a separate chapter. The detailed requirements for the preparation of the report are laid out in Act C of 2000, also known as the Accounting Act, which is based on the provisions of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Key elements in the preparation of the report include stakeholder and value chain analysis, as well as the performance of a Double Materiality Assessment (DMA). The data disclosed in the sustainability report must comply with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The report is subject to audit as part of the financial statements and must be made publicly available after disclosure.

Do you have any question?
Don't hesitate to contact us!

Ákos Schmidt

Partner, ESG Services

András Kozma

Partner, ESG Services

Ádám Mosonyi

Partner, HCA

Phone+36 1 886 3700, +36 1 886 3701
RSM ESG Solution Kft.

Address: 1139 Budapest, Váci Road 99–105, Balance Hall Building, 4th floor

Registered office: 2240 Budaörs, Budapest Road 127.

Tax number: 13615185-2-13

Company registration number: 13 09 227767

SZTFH registration number: JTAN-76-2025

Phone: +36 1 886-3700

Email: info@rsm.hu