What happens when business leaders, Members of the European Parliament, and sustainability experts meet to talk openly about Europe’s future? You get a rare mix of realism and urgency—with a healthy dose of optimism. That was precisely the vibe at The Future of Responsible Business, an event co-hosted by Intire.
First edition of The Future of Responsible Business
With nearly 200 participants, the first edition of this event brought together EU policymakers, sustainability front-runners, and impact-driven entrepreneurs. Co-hosted by Intire and Members of the European Parliament, Lara Wolters (GL–PvdA) and Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (D66–Renew Europe), the afternoon aimed to spark honest dialogue about what’s next in corporate sustainability. It was also a call-to-action underpinning how important it is for corporates which see the strategic value of non-financial reporting to voice their support—especially with CSRD and CSDDD under political pressure.
“Sustainability shouldn’t be political. But it has become political over the last few months,” said Intire partner Wesley Schulte as he opened the event at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. “That’s exactly why we need to keep the conversation going—with facts, openness, and a long-term view.”
Intire has a well-established track record for hosting dynamic events that focus on sustainability. For example, focused Round Tables sessions that dive into ESG themes such as Social Due Diligence, Biodiversity and EUDR, but also Scope 3 emissions, SBTi alignment, and sustainability data and software.
Protecting the progress made
Member of the European Parliament Lara Wolters didn’t mince words in her keynote. She compared the current debate in Brussels to “picking a new colour for a living room that we only just finished renovating.” Lara made a strong case for protecting the progress made in European sustainability policy. “We’re seeing last-minute attempts to water things down, without consulting experts. That reminds me of Brexit. If we go down that road, we risk losing everything we’ve built.” She warned of the political power play behind the recent push for deregulation. “If we let the far-right decide what responsible business looks like, we’re in trouble. We need business leaders to speak out now—not later.”
Panel discussion 1: The strategic horizon – responsible business in the long run
The first panel discussion focused on long-term ESG strategy and how non-financial reporting relates to this strategy. With leaders from Philips, VBDO, Fugro, and MVO Nederland, the message was clear: responsible business isn’t a side topic anymore—it’s core business.
“Don’t have a strategy on sustainability. Have a sustainable strategy,” said Hedwig Sietsma, Global Director Sustainability at Fugro. “Fugro has transformed itself from mainly focusing on the oil and gas sector to a diversified company with presence in renewables, water, and carbon capture, utilization and storage.
Harald Tepper, Senior Director Sustainability at Philips, explained how sustainability has become a strategic imperative. “Our non-financial results have been audited like our financial results for years now. It helps us identify the sweet spot between sustainability and business sense: for us, and for our customers. If our solutions save energy, hospitals save costs. That’s what keeps it relevant.”
Angélique Laskewitz, Executive Director at VBDO, the Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development, is optimistic. “For a lot of investors, it’s a common topic on the agenda. We’ve already come a long way compared with 20 years ago.”
Ankie van Wersch, Executive Director at MVO Nederland, emphasized that CSRD has pushed sustainability to the C-suite. “It creates a level playing field. If each company’s impact is transparent, there is no greenwashing.”
Still, the reporting burden tied to the CSRD is real. “Our report is readable, but the workload is enormous,” said Hedwig. “The time we spend creating our CSRD report could be used to create impact. Let’s simplify, but not by dumbing things down.”
GRI’s call for global alignment
Keynote speaker Bastian Buck, Chief Standards Officer at GRI, shared a global perspective. “The CSRD is based on years of best practices. It’s more than reporting—it’s about better decisions, stronger businesses, and access to long-term capital.”
He warned that the EU risks losing its leadership position if it backtracks now. “Reporting has proven its value. It provides companies with insight, helps them compete, and strengthens their financial performance. You don’t stop doing it just because the law changes.”
His call to action: use the best of both CSRD and GRI. “Let’s make sustainability reporting easier—but not meaningless. There’s a world of difference.”
Panel discussion 2: Making it work – lessons from the field
The second panel discussion showed what it takes to turn theory into practice. With panelists from Robeco, Solarge, Intire, and social due diligence expert Andreea Holwerda, the discussion dug into the real-world challenges of sustainability strategy, non-financial reporting, and supply chain engagement.
“The goal is action, not reporting,” said Gerard de Leede, CTO and co-founder of solar scale-up Solarge. “We manufacture in the Netherlands under fair conditions. However, we compete with Chinese panels manufactured under questionable labor practices and sold at a loss. That’s not a level playing field.”
Sofia Marrone, Lead Consultant at Intire, highlighted how the suggested amendments risk forcing companies into sheer reporting exercises. “Cutting off the scope and disallowing reporting companies to engage their suppliers leads to generic reports which disable a concrete plan of action to be made. We’re moving backwards instead of engaging the supply chain to drive change where it matters most.”
Jeroen Nijhoff, Corporate Sustainability Officer at Robeco, agreed. “We want to use CSRD data in our investment decisions—but that only works with complete and reliable data sets. The CSRD should support that, not complicate it.”
Andreea Holwerda, Social Due Diligence Expert at VORA Consulting, emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum in sustainability due diligence efforts. “The risks within operations and value chain will persist regardless of regulatory timelines. The objective extends beyond risk mitigation. It’s about turning your commitments and values into action.”
Want to dive deeper into the second panel discussion? Discover more in the second article in this series.
Closing note: time for optimism—and bold steps
In his closing speech, Member of the European Parliament Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy reminded the audience of the original ambition behind the Green Deal. “It was never just a green agenda—it was an economic vision. And yes, we’re in a difficult moment. But transitions are messy. Two steps forward, one step back.”
He called on companies to speak up and help move the agenda forward. “I’m asking the silent majority to use their voice. We’ll only fix the system when it becomes more profitable to invest in sustainable business than in unsustainable business. That’s where we need legislation.”
Simplification, technology, and sector-specific guidelines
The day ended with a message of cautious optimism. As Lara Wolters put it: “It’s our duty to stay optimistic. A better model is possible—and we’re here to shape it together.”
During the break and the networking reception, participants were invited to sign a large globe—symbolizing their commitment to building a better world. One by one, signatures appeared from across industries and sectors.
“We learned a lot today,” added Wesley Schulte in his wrap-up. “It’s clear that businesses want to do the right thing— but also want to reduce the reporting burden. Simplification, technology, and guidance on sector-specific risks, opportunities and impacts can help achieve that.”
