How can companies successfully transition from GRI to ESRS, and what do the latest developments surrounding European reporting standards mean for Swiss companies? These questions were the focus of the second ESRS Breakfast Briefing hosted by Sustainserv and Linkgroup on August 20, 2026, in Zurich.
Following the strong interest in the first edition in May, representatives from the banking, insurance, industrial and energy sectors once again came together to put current developments into context, share experiences and discuss concrete challenges from their day-to-day work.
Focus: The Path from GRI to ESRS
This time, the focus was on the practical implementation of ESRS reporting. In a series of short presentations, experts from Sustainserv and Linkgroup addressed three key questions in particular:
- What do the finalized Simplified ESRS mean in concrete terms for Swiss companies?
- How can companies efficiently transition from existing GRI reporting to ESRS?
- What added value can a well-structured, readable and effective ESRS report provide as a communication tool?
Particular attention was paid to the Swiss perspective: What do the current regulatory developments in the EU mean for companies headquartered or operating in Switzerland? At what point does ESRS reporting become relevant for them?
One point became clear: companies already reporting according to GRI are not starting from scratch. Many of the foundations are already in place. The key is to systematically develop existing processes, data and content further and adapt them where ESRS introduces additional requirements.
Exchange on Concrete Challenges
Following the presentations, ample time was deliberately reserved for discussion. Participants brought questions and challenges from their own day-to-day business, creating an open and practice-oriented exchange.
The discussion ranged from detailed regulatory questions and the concrete design of an ESRS report to how sustainability reporting can be organised efficiently while also serving as a meaningful communication tool.
The exchange once again showed that many companies face similar challenges, while their starting points, ambitions and the right path towards implementation can differ considerably.
Outlook
We would like to thank all participants for their insightful questions, perspectives and open exchange. Sustainserv and Linkgroup will continue the dialogue around ESRS and the further development of sustainability reporting through similar formats in the future.
Sustainserv supports companies in developing their sustainability reporting in a pragmatic and forward-looking way – from applying the GRI Standards to transitioning towards ESRS.
