Sustainable development in the new geopolitical context
On May 5 in Warsaw, we met with more than a hundred representatives of Polish companies from various industries for which sustainability is part of a viable risk management and strategy. The conference was held on the initiative of Frank Bold, with the substantive support of MATERIALITY, and under the auspices of Polish Association of Listed Companies (SEG), POLSIF, National Chamber of Commerce and Responsible Business Forum.
The starting point for the discussion was the dynamic changes in the EU regulatory environment - including the Omnibus package - and the broader geopolitical context: energy security, resilience of supply chains, access to critical raw materials and Europe's technological autonomy. The common conclusion was unequivocal: sustainability is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of economic competitiveness, not an expense of it.
Sustainable finance and regulation: between uncertainty and opportunity
The first session of the conference was devoted to sustainable finance and the practical implications of new ESG regulations for companies and financial institutions. The panel moderated by Bartosz Kwiatkowski (Frank Bold) included Robert Adamczyk (FOB), Joanna Alasa CFA, ACCA (POLSIF) and Dr. Miroslaw Kachniewski (SEG).
The discussion showed that despite the communication and legislative chaos facing companies today, the direction of change remains the same. Capital, both domestic and international, continues to flow toward entities that can credibly manage ESG risks, provide reliable data and demonstrate the resilience of their business models. The expectation of a return to „business as usual” increasingly means a real risk of losing competitiveness.
From „under the rule” reporting to smart disclosures
The second part of the event focused on what is the biggest challenge for many organizations today - sustainability reporting. Piotr Biernacki (MATERIALITY) and Filip Gregor (Frank Bold), co-authors of the ESRS standards as part of EFRAG's work, presented the tenets of the simplified standards and the direction of change described as „smarter reporting.”.
It's a shift in emphasis: from voluminous, formal reports to focused disclosures of relevant information that actually support risk management, strategic decision-making and dialogue with the financial market.
In our perspective, the key point is that ESRS, used properly, are not just a regulatory compliance tool. They become a mechanism for organizing data, strengthening value chains and building credibility with investors, banks and business partners.
Why it's important to us
In the MATERIALITY, We believe that in times of uncertainty, it is concrete data, consistent processes and reliable reporting that provide an anchor for business. The conference showed that Polish companies are ready to move from a defensive approach to ESG to using it as a source of competitive advantage - provided the regulatory framework is well understood and wisely implemented.
We would like to thank all participants for their active participation and substantive discussion, as well as the partners of the event: Sustainable Investment Forum Poland (POLSIF), the Polish Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Stock Exchange Issuers and the Responsible Business Forum. Special thanks go to the Frank Bold team for excellent organization and for creating a space to talk about sustainability in its most strategic dimension.
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