Sustainability assurance: turning compliance into strategic value creation

Petra Schwick
Partner and Sustainability Assurance Leader at PwC Switzerland

Article overview

In a world of mounting regulatory complexity and growing societal expectations, trust in information is more important than ever. Sustainability reporting plays a central role in building this trust – but it’s no longer just about compliance. Today, it’s about creating long-term value, enabling business transformation and fostering transparency in a rapidly changing environment.

Recent developments such as the EU’s omnibus proposals may delay certain regulatory obligations, but now is not the time to slow down. On the contrary – now is the time to build the capabilities and structures that will be needed when comprehensive reporting becomes mandatory. Companies that use this momentum wisely will be better positioned to navigate uncertainty, meet stakeholder expectations and stay ahead of the curve.

Assurance builds trust – and readiness

As sustainability claims come under increasing scrutiny, companies risk reputational and legal consequences if disclosures are found to be incomplete or inaccurate. This has caught the attention of boards and senior management, who are now looking for more than just polished reports. They want reliable, independently verified insights into carbon emissions, waste reduction, human rights practices and other material topics. Every claim needs to be backed up and every figure needs to have substance.

This is where sustainability assurance comes into play. While not yet required for all companies, many are proactively seeking external assurance to ensure that their data holds up to scrutiny. Voluntary reporting should not lose momentum due to regulatory delays. In fact, we continue to see strong demand from organisations that treat sustainability as a strategic priority rather than merely a reporting obligation. They want to show stakeholders where they are on their journey and apply robust metrics to guide their decisions.

From communication to meaningful action

Traditionally, sustainability or CSR reports have often been treated as communication or branding tools, managed by marketing and sustainability teams. However, that is changing – gradually, yet fundamentally. Regulatory frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the Swiss Responsible Business Initiative (RBI) are raising the bar. While some provisions have been postponed or are still being phased in, the direction of travel is clear: towards more rigorous, standardised and accountable reporting on critical sustainability issues.

This shift marks a unique opportunity. Rather than simply fulfilling compliance obligations, effective sustainability reporting is becoming a catalyst for real business transformation. Net-zero claims, for example, need to be backed up by robust data, transparent methodologies and clear strategies for reducing emissions.

This shift is also exposing a divide: between companies that embrace sustainability purely for compliance purposes and those that integrate it into their core strategy. The latter are building the foundation for long-term success – because done right, sustainability is about resilience, relevance, and responsible growth.

Sustainability reporting belongs in finance

A key enabler of this transformation is the finance function. Historically, sustainability data has been managed across disparate departments – HR, marketing, procurement – often without the processes or controls needed to ensure consistency and quality. However, once sustainability information becomes subject to assurance, it must meet the same standards as financial data.

This is why finance must take a central role. Finance teams know how to define, collect, and validate performance indicators. They bring expertise in internal controls, audit trails, and data quality – all essential for credible reporting. Their involvement is a signal that sustainability is no longer peripheral, but has become business-critical.

At PwC, we have decades of experience in financial assurance, and we’re helping clients to bring that same discipline to sustainability metrics. Integrating sustainability into finance also helps link non-financial metrics to core business decisions.

Learning from practice – and staying connected

Sustainability reporting raises complex questions: How do you measure scope 3 emissions? What’s the right approach to double materiality? How do you communicate sustainability efforts transparently without overstating progress or inviting accusations of greenwashing? These are not easy challenges – but they can be overcome, especially with the right partners and the right mindset.

We have learned that courage and transparency are essential in assurance work. Identifying and addressing potential problems early, even when it is difficult, builds credibility. Openness, in turn, fosters trust – both in the client’s disclosures and in the integrity of the assurance provider.

Our clients appreciate the integrity we bring to the process – as well as our ability to connect the dots across functions and geographies. In Switzerland, we’re closely linked with our European sustainability assurance network. This allows us to bring the full strength of our global expertise to local clients, helping them to navigate change with confidence.

A sense of purpose

Personally, I see great purpose in our work. As a sustainability assurance leader – and as someone who cares deeply about the responsible use of resources – I believe that every step towards greater transparency matters. Some might say, “What difference does it make if Switzerland acts, when others don’t?” Yet I believe every company, every team, and every individual has a role to play.

Our teams are passionate about this topic – and they should be. It’s exciting to see our auditors and assurance professionals bring their skills to a new area of impact, combining classic audit quality with sustainability insight. We’re here to help companies stay on course – not just because regulation demands it, but because the future demands it. Let’s keep the momentum going.