Around 25 representatives from European water supply and wastewater utilities gathered in Hamburg on 24–25 June 2026 for the EBC Knowledge Picnic on Sustainability Reporting. Organised by EBC Foundation in collaboration with aquabench and hosted by HAMBURG WASSER, the two-day event offered a practical space for utilities to discuss how sustainability reporting is developing across the sector and how reporting requirements can be translated into meaningful internal processes.
With non-financial reporting requirements becoming increasingly important, many utilities are working through similar questions: Which sustainability information is truly useful? How can reliable data be collected across the organisation? How should greenhouse gas emissions be calculated? And how can reporting become more than a compliance exercise?
These questions formed the basis of the Knowledge Picnic in Hamburg. The programme focused on greenhouse gas accounting, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs, ESG indicators, and the concept of value creation.
The first day opened with an interactive Gallery Walk, allowing participants to introduce their organisations, current reporting priorities and open questions. This immediately set the tone for the event: practical, open and strongly focused on peer learning.
Several utilities then shared their own experiences with sustainability reporting. David Peral from Canal de Isabel II and Joost Zweers from Vitens presented their approaches to CSRD implementation, offering concrete examples of how large utilities are preparing for new reporting expectations. Aggeliki Kostaki from EYDAP introduced the development of an ESG KPI and KRI framework for strategic management and risk resilience, linking sustainability reporting to wider organisational priorities.
The afternoon continued with an interactive problem-solving session, where participants explored shared challenges in smaller groups. Contributions from Anne Marieke Motelica-Wagenaar from Waterboard Amstel, Gooi en Vecht and Frank Tintel from Oasen further broadened the discussion by showing how sustainability reporting is being approached from both waterboard and voluntary reporting perspectives.
A recurring message throughout the day was that sustainability reporting is not only about meeting external requirements. It also raises important internal questions about data ownership, indicator selection and governance, and how sustainability information can support better decision-making.
The second day turned to one of the most challenging areas for many utilities: greenhouse gas emissions calculations. A dedicated session brought together perspectives from Peter Geudens from Vewin, Anne Marieke Motelica-Wagenaar from Waterboard AGV, Torsten Franz from aquabench and Jennifer Hammerich from Ruhrverband.
The discussion showed that utilities are making progress, but that methodological challenges remain. Data availability, consistency of assumptions, operational boundaries and the calculation of certain indirect emissions continue to require careful attention. Participants exchanged practical experiences on where calculations are relatively well established and where further alignment or clarification would be useful.
The programme then moved from emissions accounting to the broader question of value creation. Reshma Ghisaidoobe from Dunea and Tijs van Kessel from Vitens shared how the concept can be operationalised within a company and connected to corporate strategy. Their contributions highlighted the growing importance of explaining not only what utilities report, but also how they create long-term value for customers, society and the environment.
The Knowledge Picnic also made use of its Hamburg setting. On the first evening, participants visited Wasserkunst Kaltehofe, a historic location connected to the origins of Hamburg’s modern drinking water treatment, followed by dinner on site. On the second day, the programme concluded with a guided visit to Hamburg WWTP, one of Germany’s largest wastewater treatment plants. These visits added a practical and local dimension to the discussions, connecting sustainability reporting to the infrastructure and history of urban water management.
Across the two days, participants recognised that utilities may be at different stages in their sustainability reporting journey, but many of the underlying challenges are shared. Reliable data collection, internal coordination, methodological choices, meaningful indicators and strategic use of reporting information remain key topics for the sector.
The Knowledge Picnic showed the value of bringing utilities together in a setting where open questions can be discussed honestly and practical examples can be exchanged. As reporting frameworks continue to evolve, this type of peer learning helps utilities move from obligation to insight, and from reporting to action.
EBC Foundation sincerely thanks HAMBURG WASSER for hosting the event, aquabench for the collaboration, all speakers for their valuable contributions, and all participants for their active engagement throughout the two days.