Strategic Focus: Unpacking The EU Taxonomy

17 May, 2023

Access this research

Access all Corporate Sustainability Leaders content with a strategic subscription or buy this single report

Need help or have a question about this report? Contact us for assistance

Executive Summary

The EU Taxonomy Regulation is a green classification system that translates the EU’s climate and environmental objectives into criteria for specific economic activities and investment purposes. Since January 2023, 11,000 firms have transitioned from taxonomy eligible reporting to the more complex taxonomy alignment reporting. This report unpacks the requirements of the EU Taxonomy and explores how firms can prepare for some of the more challenging aspects of the regulation. Crucially, it highlights the importance of sustainable taxonomies as tools that can be used by organizations of all sizes to drive sustainable strategy development, enhance competitive positioning and improve access to capital. This report can be used by executives in sustainability, operations, procurement, finance and legal functions to enhance their disclosure practices.
The EU Taxonomy Is Central To The EU’s Environmental Policy Agenda
Four Assessment Criteria To Establish Taxonomy Alignment
EU Taxonomy Regulation Will Require Heavy Lifting From Reporting Organizations
Three Ways Organizations Can Enhance Their EU Taxonomy Reporting
Figure 1. Requirements Of The EU Taxonomy Regulation
Figure 2. The Environmental Objectives Of The EU Taxonomy
Figure 3. Example Of Technical Screening Criteria For An Activity’s Climate Change Mitigation Contribution 
Figure 4. Sustainable Taxonomies Beyond The EU
Figure 5. ESG Information Architecture Components

About the Authors

Lily Turnbull

Lily Turnbull

Senior Analyst

Lily is a Senior Analyst at Verdantix, where she delivers in-depth research to help executives navigate ESG, sustainability and product innovation, and make confident decision...

Kim Knickle

Kim Knickle

Research Director

Kim Knickle is a Research Director at Verdantix, bringing more than two decades of analyst experience to the evolving world of sustainability. Her current research spans ESG a...

View Profile

Other related content

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Sustainability & Climate Risks
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
The State of Sustainability: 2026 Globa...

The sustainability market is shifting fast – and not always in the direction anyone expected. Regulatory rollbacks and expansions, geopolitical realignment, and tightening budgets ...

Upcoming / 08 September, 2026

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability & Climate Risks
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
State of the Market: Sustainability Con...

The sustainability market is shifting fast — and not always in the direction anyone expected. Regulatory rollbacks and expansions, geopolitical realignment, and tightening budgets ...

Upcoming / 23 July, 2026

Blog
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
AI Regulation, Skills Erosion And The G...

Earlier this month (June 2026), the Word Economic Forum (WEF) published a report focusing on the future of entry-level roles in a world of AI. Highlighting growing concern around...

29 June, 2026

Blog
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
ISSB – And Brazil – Survive Brazil’s Re...

In May 2026, Brazil’s Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) softened its planned mandatory sustainability reporting regime through Resolution 244, shifting ISSB-aligned discl...

25 June, 2026

Blog
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
The CSRD For Non-EU Firms Is Narrower –...

EFRAG recently announced that it is restarting development of the Non-EU European Sustainability Reporting Standards (N-ESRS), providing the first indication of what affected fir...

23 June, 2026

Webinar
Sustainable Supply Chains
Sustainability Assurance & Due Diligence
Sustainability & Climate Risks
ESG & Sustainability Reporting Software
Corporate Sustainability Leaders
Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Services
Corporate Energy Transition Solutions
Climate Financial Data & Analytics
Corporate Energy Leaders
Carbon Management Software
Built Environment Energy & Decarbonization
Full Charge Ahead: Navigating The EV Ch...

EV charging management software is moving quickly from a niche operational tool to a critical enterprise system, and the urgency for buyers is only increasing as the market matures...

18 June, 2026