A shift in regulatory policies has led the French company, FINGREEN AI, to cease operations. Known for utilizing artificial intelligence to aid in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, the company is responding to a new business landscape shaped by the European Union’s regulatory amendments. The brand, established to streamline sustainability efforts for mid-sized companies, can no longer sustain its operations under the updated directives. This decision brings to light the impact of policy changes on business viability and strategy within the EU market.
When established, FINGREEN AI aimed to empower mid-sized EU firms in adhering to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Initially, it offered critical assistance to businesses, especially those employing fewer than 1,000 people. Its tools were developed precisely for these companies to fulfill sustainability obligations, emphasizing compliance and environmental impact measurement. However, the Omnibus Simplification Package redefined the landscape by narrowing the scope of mandatory compliance to larger corporations only.
What Led to FINGREEN AI’s Downfall?
The amendments in EU legislation, notably the Omnibus Directive, introduced new thresholds that significantly altered compliance requirements. This adjusted focus on larger enterprises effectively reduced FINGREEN AI’s customer base, as companies with under 1,000 employees were no longer required to align with these rules. As a result, many of the businesses originally seen as potential clients were dropped from the purview of the CSRD mandate.
How Did Stakeholders Respond to the Shift?
“I sincerely hope the European Union will soon recognize that sustainability can be a powerful driver of competitiveness,”
expressed Louis Frank, CEO and co-founder of FINGREEN AI, while commenting on these developments. The exclusion from the CSRD coverage severely limited business opportunities for the company, presenting a direct challenge to its original mission and operations.
The changes proposed under the Omnibus Directive were initially introduced in February 2025 and adopted in April the same year. Amendments included increasing the requirement threshold to businesses with over 1,000 employees, revenues exceeding €50 million, or assets over €25 million. These policies cumulatively shrunk the potential client base for FINGREEN AI, rendering its business model untenable.
The European Parliament discussions emphasize that the revised CSRD will apply to corporations with more than 1,750 employees and net turnovers exceeding €450 million. Consequently, the entities required to comply with sustainability reporting decreased from 50,000 to around 10,000 companies, markedly reducing the market for services like those provided by FINGREEN AI.
Reflecting on these regulatory shifts, the company voiced concerns:
“Europe is taking a massive step backward and slowing momentum in the global transition to sustainable business practices.”
These adjustments underscore the challenge of balancing regulatory changes with business sustainability. For FINGREEN AI, the inability to align with new compliance demands spelled the end. The regulatory change illustrates how external policy shifts can profoundly impact even the most mission-driven companies, highlighting the intricate interplay between regulatory landscapes and business fortunes.
