FAQ

Whether a listed corporation or a small one-person business – companies are increasingly being asked by banks to provide ESG data. Here’s why:

• Regulatory obligations of banks: ESG data is needed to meet supervisory requirements and for the bank’s own sustainability reporting.

• Loan issuance: Regulatory requirements call for the integration of ESG risks into the credit approval process. ESG data can have a positive impact on a customer’s loan conditions.

• Client advisory: Supporting corporate clients in their transformation toward greater sustainability. Opportunities can be identified and promoted through financing.
  Example: Switching to renewable energy resources.

The contents of the OeKB > ESG Data Hub questionnaire are tailored to the ESG requirements of banks in Austria. The content is strongly aligned with the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and the ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards).

The VSME-AddOn covers the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standards for SMEs (VSME). These standards are aimed at companies that are not subject to the CSRD reporting obligation but still want to report on ESG topics in a structured and EU-compliant manner — including to relevant stakeholders.

• Share your ESG data with banks: Grant your main banks permission to access your ESG data. This gives them all the information they need from you. It also shows that you are proactive and already engaged with ESG topics.

• View your ESG summary: Get a visual overview of your strengths and weaknesses in each of the three areas – Environment, Social, and Governance. You can also compare your data with that of other companies in your industry.

• Generate your ESG report: Receive a detailed report of all your ESG data, including insightful tables and charts. Color-coded indicators help you easily see where you are performing well and where there is room for improvement. You can also share the ESG report with other stakeholders.

You can create a new version of your questionnaire at any time. Your previously entered data will be displayed, allowing you to overwrite it and complete a new version of the questionnaire. This way, you can update individual data points whenever needed. Completed questionnaire versions can be downloaded as ESG reports in PDF format. This ensures that older versions and data entries are preserved.

This varies from bank to bank. For more detailed information, we kindly ask you to contact your account manager at your main bank.

Currently, importing or exporting ESG data is not possible. We are working on an XBRL interface for the VSME-AddOn. 

No, the company register number cannot be changed independently. To make a change, a written request to support@oekb-esgdatahub.com is required.

Personal data and general company information (e.g. location or industry) can, however, be updated independently at any time in the login area.

If you have granted your bank permission to access your ESG data, it will be able to view your most recently completed questionnaire.

Banks with corresponding access can also view your ESG reports. If you do not wish this, you can deactivate access at any time in the login area under "ESG Reports" via the setting "visible for data recipients (including banks)".

Important:
You decide who you share your ESG data with. You can revoke or re-grant a bank's access at any time. This can be done in the login area under "Set up access to raw data".

For this case, the "Do not answer question" function is available. If you are not yet able to answer a question in the OeKB > ESG Data Hub, you can still complete the questionnaire. The relevant question will be greyed out. As soon as you have the necessary data available, you can add it at any time retrospectively.

The ESG summary is a visual presentation of your ESG data. Using charts and tables, you can see which topics you are already well positioned in and where there is still room for improvement. More information can be found here.

This information is optional. For each question, you can indicate whether the data entered is estimated, calculated (e.g. using meters or invoices) or verified. "Verified" means that the data has been validated, for example as part of an internal or external audit.

This labelling serves to better assess the quality and traceability of the data provided and represents a valuable addition, particularly for banks.

If you would like to switch the ESG questionnaire to a new reporting year, please proceed as follows:

1. Set the questionnaire to editing mode
   If the questionnaire has already been completed, restart it via the "Edit questionnaire" function in the dashboard.
2. Update the reporting year
   Navigate to Business > Company data > Contact details and adjust the reporting year accordingly.
3. Create a new year in the tables
   In relevant tables (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, water withdrawal, waste) you can create a new entry using the "+ New year" button. You have the option to distinguish between reporting year, base year and target year.