What is the European CSO Network?
In light of the past EU approach to sustainability regulation, marked by a predominantly top-down initiatives introduced without sufficient support mechanisms or incentives for businesses, the European Chief Sustainability Officer Network advocates for a more enabling and forward-looking policy framework. Its objective is to facilitate a smoother transition to sustainable practices while safeguarding long-term growth and competitiveness.
The European CSO Network brings together Chief Sustainability Officers and senior sustainability leaders from major European organisations.
It is a practitioner-led platform that leverages the experience of CSOs and equivalent functions to exchange insights, engage constructively with EU institutions, and translate sustainability requirements into strategic decisions that strengthen business performance and long-term competitiveness.
Who It Is For
Chief Sustainability Officers and equivalents.
Senior leaders supporting CSOs across strategy, finance, operations, legal, and procurement.
Sustainability teams seeking practical policy dialogue and peer insight.
If you are navigating complex EU sustainability regulation while being expected to drive business value, this Network is for you.
2025 - 2026 Focus
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Making EU sustainability frameworks workable in practice, informed by practitioner experience and real execution challenges. Built on insights from the European CSO Network paper Better Regulation for Stronger Implementation.
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Exploring how incentives, industrial policy, and value chain design can turn sustainability into durable business value and resilience.
What Members Get
Member-only meetings
Including closed sessions at the European Sustainable Industry Summit plus dedicated annual meetings.
Practical outputs
Summaries, recommendations, templates, and shared approaches that support implementation inside companies.
Policy engagement
Structured practitioner input shaping EU policy through coordinated dialogue with EU institutions.
A credible collective voice
Stronger influence through shared positions, aligning company expectations across markets and value chains.
Why Join
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Engage directly with EU institutions’ representatives and contribute practitioner insight to policy discussions focused on implementation, impact, and value creation.
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Curated exchanges with peers facing the same challenges. Fewer meetings, higher value, clear takeaways.
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Briefings, sessions, and tools that help translate EU requirements into business decisions, investment priorities, and operational change.
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Open, practitioner-only discussions focused on progress over perfection and what works in practice.
From Compliance to Business Value
EU sustainability regulation should not be treated as an administrative burden. When applied with intelligence and common sense, it can support:
EU Intelligence helps members make that shift in practice. For example, members use EU sustainability requirements to inform investment priorities, supplier engagement, and long-term risk management.
Upcoming Milestones
Practitioner publications developed with partners.
CSO Network sessions and open house dialogues.
Engagement with EU institutions across Parliament, Commission, and Council.
What Members Say
“The CSO Network helps me focus on what really matters: implementation, decision-making, and business impact. It saves time and strengthens my influence.“
Resources
Upcoming CSO Network Meetings
Get In Touch
Participation in the European CSO Network is by invitation and designed for senior sustainability leaders in large organisations.