Regulations

VSME explained for SME suppliers

VSME is voluntary, yet EU law is turning it into the ceiling on what large customers may demand from you. What it is, what it is not, and what to do first.

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Does VSME apply to your company?

In the legal sense it applies to nobody, and that is not a technicality. Three questions that decide whether it does anything for you, and what to do with each answer.

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WPM vs the CO2-Prestatieladder: the same travel data, twice

One is law and asks for kilometres. One is voluntary certification and asks for an audited footprint. Doing either does not discharge the other.

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CO2-Prestatieladder deadlines: every date that matters

Most of this timeline is already behind you. What 14 January 2027 really closes, why 14 January 2028 exists, and the date in your own calendar that binds.

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What CSRD does not require: eight things people believe wrongly

No balance sheet criterion. No two of three test. No listed SME duty. No reasonable assurance. Eight widespread beliefs about CSRD, checked against the text.

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CSRD vs the EU Taxonomy: two duties, one trigger

The Taxonomy does not have its own scope. It borrows CSRD's, which collapsed in February 2026. What each one actually asks for, and whether you are in either.

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When a standard is not a law: the two-minute check before you budget for it

Communications, directives, certification schemes and buyer questionnaires all get called rules. A two-minute check tells them apart, with two we checked and refuted.

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The sustainability dates everyone is still quoting that are wrong

Six dates and thresholds that circulate widely and do not match the primary sources. What the wrong version says, what is actually the case, and where to check.

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We lost a tender on CO2 criteria. What now?

Losing on carbon criteria usually means one of four things. Here is how to work out which, and what is fixable before the next bid.

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Can you still say 'carbon neutral' after 27 September 2026?

From 27 September 2026, offset-based carbon neutral claims are banned in the EU. What the EmpCo Directive changes, and what you can say instead.

The EmpCo claims checklist: what to change before 27 September

A practical audit checklist for environmental claims under the EmpCo Directive. Where claims hide, how to classify them, and what evidence each needs.

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What changes in 2027 for sustainability data

CSRD scope narrows, CBAM certificates go on sale, ProRail moves to Ladder 4.0 and NHS requirements tighten. The 2027 calendar in one place.

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