You’ve been laying the groundwork for CSRD compliance—and then the Omnibus Package arrived. With it came new timelines, trimmed requirements, and a lot of confusion. If you’re unsure how it fits into your compliance journey, you’re not alone.

Let’s break it down. What is this package? What’s changing (and what’s not)? And what does it actually mean for your team’s day-to-day planning?

First things first: what is omnibus?

The Omnibus Package is the European Commission’s big effort to make sustainability regulations more manageable—especially for smaller businesses. Think of it as a cleanup operation: simplifying rules, cutting back on administrative work, and pushing out some deadlines to give companies more breathing room.

The goal? Make it easier for businesses to meet sustainability goals without drowning in paperwork.

So what is changing?

1. The "stop-the-clock" rule: delayed deadlines

If your company falls into CSRD reporting wave 2 or 3, here’s some good news: your deadlines have been pushed back by two years. That means:

• Companies who were meant to report in 2026 (on FY 2025) now report in 2028

• Companies reporting in 2027 (on FY 2026) will now report in 2029

But if you’re in wave 1 (already subject to the Non-Financial Reporting Directive), nothing’s changed—you’re still reporting this year.

And if you're a non-EU company operating in the EU market? The original deadlines still apply. No delays there.

2. Reporting relief for smaller businesses

The EU is also narrowing who has to report. Under the updated CSRD scope, only companies with 1,000+ employees and significant financial thresholds (over €50M turnover or €25M in assets) are required to report.

That’s a huge change—roughly 80% of companies that were originally expected to report will now be off the hook. For many smaller firms, that’s a big relief.

But keep in mind: even if you’re not formally in scope, your clients or investors may still expect sustainability data. The EU is planning a voluntary reporting standard for companies outside CSRD’s reach, so it’s still worth preparing.

3. Simplified Standards

The European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) are getting a makeover. Fewer data points, clearer definitions, and a more consistent structure are all on the table. The sector-specific standards? Dropped. The reasonable assurance requirement? Postponed.

All of this should make reporting less of a bureaucratic headache—especially for companies just starting out.

4. Less burden for suppliers

If you’re an SME or part of a bigger company’s value chain, you’ve likely been overwhelmed by sustainability information requests. The new package introduces a “value-chain cap,” limiting how much information larger companies can ask from their smaller suppliers.

This should reduce the trickle-down burden that’s been stressing out SMEs, while still allowing larger businesses to meet their reporting obligations.

The bottom line

In short: less bureaucracy, more business sense. But make no mistake—while it postpones deadlines and streamlines requirements—it underlines the need for clarity. The smart move forward? Stay engaged, stay prepared and use this moment to build internal confidence around sustainability reporting.

Resources

• https://www.circularise.com/blogs/eu-omnibus-regulation

• https://www.coolset.com/academy/eu-omnibus-sustainability-and-your-organization

• https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_25_615

• https://accountancyeurope.eu/publications/omnibus-explained-key-changes-to-csrd/

• https://www.brightest.io/uk-sustainability-reporting

• https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/commission-simplifies-rules-sustainability-and-eu-investments-delivering-over-eu6-billion_en

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmcgowan/2025/01/28/the-ominous-omnibus-what-new-eu-legislation-could-mean-for-sustainability-reporting/