New HEC Paris Policy Paper Proposes “Smart Product-Level Disclosure” to Reconcile EU Sustainability Regulation and Competitiveness
A team of HEC Paris researchers outlines a new model to simplify sustainability disclosure, reduce costs for firms, and strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness. As the European Union revisits its sustainability reporting frameworks, a new HEC Paris Policy Paper — “Squaring Disclosure Regulation and Competitiveness” — offers a fresh approach to align transparency with competitiveness.
Led by Brian Hill, Research Director at CNRS and Academic Director of the Inclusive Economy Center at HEC Paris, and co-authored by members of the Sustainability & Organizations Institute, the report proposes a shift from firm-level to smart product-level disclosure — a digital, standardized “scorecard” system for each product, combining automation, comparability, and transparency.
This innovative architecture would allow companies to report data more efficiently, avoid duplication, and level the playing field between EU and non-EU firms. By making sustainability data available at the product level, it could also empower consumers, investors, and policymakers to make better-informed decisions.
“Smart product-level disclosure can help Europe stay ambitious on sustainability — while reducing the reporting burden on businesses and strengthening its global influence”, explains Brian Hill.
The policy paper builds on interviews with key policymakers and sustainability leaders, including Pascal Canfin, Member of the European Parlement; Virgine Chauvin, CSR Director and Partner, Forvis Mazars (auditor); Pascal Dagras, Developer of impact measurement tool Ecobalyse; Commissariat Général au Développement Durable, French Ministry of Ecological Transition; Elisabeth Gambert, Director for CSR & International Affairs, Afep (French Association of Private Businesses); Gaël Lamant, CRSD Task Force Leader and Partner, Forvis Mazars (auditor); Member of working group “ESRS Simplification”, Autorité, des Normes Comptables, Sébastien Mandron, CSR Director, Wordline; Bureau Member, C3D (Collège des Directeurs du Développement Durable); Alexis Normand, CEO & Co-founder, Greenly (sustainability platform); Martin Sandbu, European Economics Commentator, Financial Times; Gilles Vermot Desroches, Chief Corporate Citizens.
| Read the full Policy Paper |
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