December Newsletter | Sustainability in Motion

Insights to inspire, act, share & inform

Welcome back to ‘Sustainability in motion’. In this edition, we cover:

Inspire – Success story: How Nexio Projects supports CIRFOOD NL for EcoVadis Platinum and more
Educate – Decarbonisation 101: From emissions data to science-based targets
Share – Top consultancy: Our notable recognitions as an ESG front-runner
Regulatory update – Omnibus finalised: Key implications for your organisation

Success story: How Nexio Projects supports CIRFOOD NL for EcoVadis Platinum and more

Sustainability leadership doesn’t happen by accident. In the foodservice sector, where up to 80% of environmental impact sits in procurement, real progress requires structure. CIRFOOD Netherlands & Belgocatering show what’s possible when sustainability is truly embedded.

Built in, not bolted on

For CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering, sustainability has never been a marketing exercise. It is a part of their DNA, from inclusive employment to procurement choices and menu design. The challenge wasn’t ambition, but translating it into measurable impact across a complex organisation.

A partnership focused on impact

For over four years, Nexio Projects has worked alongside CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering as a strategic ESG partner, helping turn vision into action. We supported them with materiality-driven roadmaps, Scope 1–3 carbon footprinting, EcoVadis and UN Global Compact reporting, building a practical framework for continuous improvement.

What we delivered, and what changed

In our most recent collaboration, we translated strategy into these concrete steps:

Full Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon footprinting to identify priority levers
EcoVadis improvement roadmaps, moving from Silver to sustained Platinum (top 1% globally)
Supplier engagement focused on Scope 3 emissions and responsible procurement
ESG training to embed sustainability across teams

From insight to action

These insights drove tangible change: fleet electrification, increased plant-based menus (now close to 80% vegetarian for some clients), cleaner labels, and stronger supplier codes of conduct embedding sustainability into everyday decisions.

Recognition that reflects reality

CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering’s EcoVadis Platinum status is more than a badge. It strengthens credibility in tenders, boosts internal engagement, and reinforces their position as a sustainability leader in foodservice.

As their team puts it:

“We don’t do sustainability for show. For us, change is truly built in — and Nexio Projects helped us turn a vision into real results.”

We’re proud to support CIRFOOD NL & Belgocatering as they continue to raise the bar for sustainable foodservice.

Interested in more success stories?

Decarbonisation 101: From emissions data to science-based targets

Decarbonisation is, first and foremost, about clarity. Before setting targets or engaging suppliers, organisations need to understand where their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from and how data can guide action.

Let’s take a quick lesson from our expert-led series, Decarbonisation 101, breaking the journey into practical steps.

1) Understanding GHG emissions and carbon accounting

Decarbonisation begins with knowing what to measure. Carbon accounting provides a structured way to quantify GHG emissions across Scope 1, 2 and 3, following recognised standards such as the GHG Protocol.

This process helps organisations:

Identify their main emission hotspots
Build reliable, auditable carbon footprints
Create a baseline for reduction planning and reporting

Without this foundation, climate strategies risk being incomplete or misleading. Read more in Decarbonisation 101 (Part 1): Understanding carbon accounting.

2) Turning carbon data into science-based targets

Carbon data only becomes powerful when it is used to steer decisions. This is where Science-Based Targets (SBTs) come in. Rather than abstract ambitions, SBTs convert emissions data into credible steps, aligned with the Paris Agreement.

In practice, they provide organisations with:

A clear focus on the most material emission sources
A shared direction for teams, investments, and priorities
Increased credibility with investors, customers, and regulators

Crucially, targets are not the destination. They are a navigation tool keeping decarbonisation efforts consistent, measurable, and on track over time.

3) Reducing emissions across the value chain through supplier engagement

For most organisations, the majority of emissions sit in Scope 3, making supplier engagement essential. However, the supply chain can be incredibly complex. Decarbonisation at scale requires collaboration, shared data, and aligned incentives across the value chain.

Understand real actions for carbon reduction in the last part of our article series.

Remember: decarbonisation is a journey. Measure first, set credible targets, then collaborate to deliver real reductions where they matter most.

Top consultancy: Our notable recognitions as an ESG front-runner

As we close out the year, we were delighted to receive feedback from clients and peers, and to be recognised in sustainability rankings by credible organisations. Let’s take a look at these recognitions, and more importantly, what they mean for our ambitions for next year.

Top Consulting Firm 2025 – Sustainability & ESG (Consultancy.nl)

We were happy to be named a Top Consulting Firm of 2025 by Consultancy.nl, with Platinum medals in both Sustainability and ESG.

The ranking is based on independent feedback from clients and consultants across capabilities, projects, and thought leadership. For us, it underlines the importance of combining technical expertise with pragmatic delivery, helping organisations move from strategy to implementation with confidence.

SD400 2025 – Top 10 sustainability consultancies (MT/Sprout)

In the SD400 2025, Nexio Projects was ranked #7 overall, and recognised among frontrunners in Ecological (#4) and Governance (#13) performance.

This benchmark highlights consultancies that drive real sustainability impact in the Netherlands. It reinforces our focus on climate and ESG solutions that are both robust and actionable, creating long-term value creation. Read more on our news page.

Why this matters

In sustainability, recognition only has meaning if it reflects real expertise and real outcomes. These acknowledgements encourage us to keep raising the bar. Next year, we’ll work on pushing the boundaries further, deepening our knowledge, strengthening partnerships, and supporting organisations as sustainability expectations continue to evolve.

Many thanks to everyone that voted, and trusted Nexio Projects as their sustainability partner.

Omnibus finalised: Key implications for your organisation

With the vote on 16th of December, the European Parliament has finalised the Omnibus Simplification Package, introducing key updates to CSRD and CSDDD. These changes, together with the ongoing ESRS revisions, will reshape ESG reporting—and organisations need to start planning for the impact.

CSRD thresholds

Scope: 1,000 employees and EUR 450 million turnover

CSDDD thresholds

Scope: 5,000 employees and EUR 1.5 billion turnover
Climate transition plans removed
CSDDD enters into force on 26 July 2029

ESRS updates

Reduces mandatory data points by 61% and removes voluntary data points
Designed to apply from FY2027, aligning with CSRD obligations for large companies
Final standards expected after public consultation within 6–9 months

What’s next?

The Omnibus Directive comes into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal and must be transposed into national law by EU Member States.

These changes go beyond compliance. They will influence strategy, reporting processes, and ESG coordination across borders. Organisations now have clearer frameworks, but also important decisions to make.

Join the conversation

Beyond the thresholds, you might be asking: What’s my next move?

Our ESG experts will explore the implications and practical next steps in our upcoming webinar, with plenty of time dedicated to Q&A and building a roadmap for what’s to come. Sign up!