Sustainability reporting without the headache?

An interview with Rui Francisco, the driving force behind The Sustainability Network (TSN). Learn how TSN can help your company with sustainability reports.

A start-up born during the Lisbon MBA’s Corporate Governance classes promises to help companies comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) rules stipulated by the European Union. The Sustainability Network is a cutting-edge platform designed to empower businesses of all sizes with comprehensive sustainability reporting and analytics capabilities – and it’s already on the market. Rui Francisco, founder and CEO explains how the idea came about.

What is The Sustainability Network and what does it do?

The Sustainability Network (TSN) is a Lisbon-based company that offers a comprehensive software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform designed to empower companies of all sizes with environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting and analysis. Our mission is to drive sustainable transformation by providing tools that facilitate the integration of environmental, social and governance principles into corporate operations. The platform supports various ESG standards, enables the integration of data from multiple sources, and offers customizable reports and advanced analytics, promoting transparency in the supply chain and greater stakeholder involvement. Our vision is to drive the transformation and simplification of ESG reporting, creating a world in which all companies are empowered to adopt sustainability, transparency and ethical practices.

How did the idea come about? Were you inspired by an existing one?

The idea for The Sustainability Network (TSN) was born during the Lisbon MBA, specifically in Professor Paulo Câmara’s Corporate Governance classes and the Entrepreneurship week at MIT. It was a period of intense exchange of ideas during which it became clear that there was an urgent need to support companies in their transition to sustainability, transparency and ethical practices, but that they faced significant challenges in the process.

So, is your focus on helping companies transition to a more sustainable economy?

The main objective from the outset was to solve concrete problems. At the time, many companies didn’t have the necessary resources (and many still don’t) or the right tools or found sustainability and regulatory compliance processes extraordinarily laborious and time-consuming. We wanted to create a solution that would make this process simpler, more accessible, efficient and scalable, especially for organizations that were starting on their ESG journey or operating in resource-constrained contexts. It was from this combination of academic inspiration and a desire to simplify the challenges faced by companies that TSN was born, a platform designed to empower organizations to integrate sustainability into their business in a practical and impactful way.

Does The Sustainability Network help companies develop their sustainability reports? How do you do it?

Yes, we help companies create sustainability reports that comply with the new reporting rules, such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive). We do this through a set of functionalities and services that simplify the entire process, from data collection to the generation of the final reports.

Can you explain the process?

Firstly, TSN simplifies data collection through connectors and APIs, allowing easy integration of a company’s internal systems. This eliminates manual processes, reduces the margin for error and ensures that information is consistent and current. In addition, the platform covers the entire value chain, facilitating communication with suppliers and customers, ensuring that all relevant data is included in reports, and promoting transparency at every stage.

Sustainability reports generated with a single click?

Yes! And available in six languages (English, Spanish, European Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, French and Italian). This feature is handy for companies operating in global markets and communicating their sustainability results to stakeholders in different regions.

But it’s all digital, meaning there’s no human interference?

No, we have a team of experienced specialists (in sustainability, engineering and training) who are available to guide and support companies while adopting sustainability practices. These professionals help interpret regulations, implement ESG strategies, and prepare for reporting, ensuring that each company is aligned with regulatory requirements and market best practices.

Is it applicable to all sectors of activity? Or is it more suitable for a specific sector?

TSN is suitable for all sectors of activity. The platform has been developed with a comprehensive and global approach, which means that it can be parameterized to meet the specific needs of any sector. This flexibility allows companies to adapt the tool to their unique requirements, regardless of the sector in which they operate. In addition, TSN is fully compatible with widely recognized standards, such as the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), which includes sector-specific requirements. This means that the platform can support customized standards and indicators for industries such as energy, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services, among others. By integrating these specificities, we ensure that each company can comply with the relevant requirements of its sector.

What kind of reports can the platform produce?

The Sustainability Network allows the creation of detailed reports in natural language, available in six languages: English (EN), Spanish (ES), European Portuguese (PT-PT), Brazilian Portuguese (PT-BR), French (FR) and Italian (IT) as well as eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL), a format widely used by regulators and financial institutions to analyze structured data. This ensures that companies can submit information directly to authorities and stakeholders, simplifying the compliance process and ensuring efficiency. We produce customizable and auditable reports according to the specific needs of each company. Through interactive dashboards and customized reports, companies can monitor key ESG metrics, communicate progress to internal and external audiences and identify areas for improvement. The integrated auditing capability ensures that all reports generated are accurate and reliable.

What role does AI play in The Sustainability Network platform?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is central to the platform, bringing efficiency and precision to companies’ sustainability processes. Through AI, the platform can automate and accelerate reporting, allowing companies to produce detailed, regulatory-compliant documents, such as those required by the CSRD, with just one click. This significantly reduces the time and effort required, ensuring that reports are generated quickly and consistently without compromising quality or accuracy.

Is it a platform only for Portuguese companies? Or European?

It is a global platform designed to be independent of the region of operation because we believe that sustainability is a global effort that requires the collaboration and commitment of companies from all geographies. In order to produce tangible and lasting results, sustainability must be treated as a collective goal transcending borders and regions. Although TSN is fully adaptable to the needs of any company, regardless of its location, it is true that some standards and regulations supported by the platform have a greater focus on European companies, such as the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). However, the platform also supports frameworks and standards that have global application, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) Standards and the recommendations of the TCFD (Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures).

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

The Sustainability Network stands out for its innovative culture, which is intensely focused on solving problems and simplifying processes in the context of sustainability. We believe that innovation and simplicity are essential pillars to help companies overcome complex challenges and achieve a positive impact, both for their business and for society and the environment.

Article originally published on : https://sustentix.sapo.pt/e-se-lhe-fizessem-os-relatorios-de-sustentabilidade-da-sua-empresa-sem-ter-dores-de-cabeca/