The verdict in three sentences
A low-impact redesign following the RGESN framework costs on average 5 to 15% more than a standard redesign, preceded by an audit of EUR 3,000 to 8,000 excl. VAT. In return, average page weight drops from 3.5 MB to 0.8 MB, load time is halved and estimated emissions per page view fall by about 46%. For a mid-sized company in Amsterdam that must document its digital footprint in its CSRD report, it is one of the most measurable and fastest sustainability projects to deliver.
What the RGESN framework means for a corporate website
The RGESN (French general framework for the eco-design of digital services), published by the French regulators Arcom and Arcep, contains 78 criteria across 9 families: strategy, specifications, architecture, UX/UI, content, frontend, backend, hosting, algorithms. It is increasingly used across Europe, alongside the W3C Web Sustainability Guidelines, as the reference grid when a company reports digital indicators under ESRS E1 (climate).
For a company with 250 to 1,500 employees, the goal is not to tick 78 boxes. It is to produce a credible eco-design statement, a costed action plan and indicators tracked over time: Ecoindex, page weight, number of requests, estimated emissions.
| Item | 2026 range (EUR excl. VAT) | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Initial RGESN audit (20 to 40 page templates) | 3,000 to 8,000 | Score per family, prioritised action plan |
| Ecoindex and GreenIT measurement on key journeys | 800 to 2,000 | A to G grades, weight, requests, DOM |
| Published eco-design statement | 1,000 to 2,500 | Public page following the RGESN template |
| Low-impact corporate site redesign (30 to 60 pages) | 28,000 to 60,000 | Live site, sobriety premium included |
| Sobriety premium vs standard redesign | 5 to 15% of budget | Optimised media, fonts, limited JS |
| Annual indicator tracking (CSRD reporting) | 2,000 to 5,000 / year | Quarterly dashboard |
Before and after: measurable gains of a low-impact redesign
The figures below are 2026 orders of magnitude observed on mid-sized corporate sites. Emissions are estimated with the Ecoindex method (about 1 to 3 g CO2e per page view depending on complexity) and should be presented as estimates in the report.
| Indicator | Current site (typical) | After RGESN redesign | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average page weight | 3.5 MB | 0.8 MB | -77% |
| HTTP requests per page | 95 | 30 | -68% |
| Load time on 4G | 4.2 s | 2.0 s | halved |
| Average Ecoindex score | E (38/100) | B (72/100) | +34 points |
| Estimated emissions per page view | 2.4 g CO2e | 1.3 g CO2e | -46% |
| Annual emissions (600,000 page views) | 1.44 t CO2e | 0.78 t CO2e | -0.66 t |
| Monthly hosting cost | EUR 450 | EUR 220 | -51% |
The biggest levers: removing video carousels from the home page, AVIF and WebP images at the right size, system fonts or a single variable font, fewer third-party scripts (tag managers, chats, trackers), statically generated pages and hosting in a data centre powered by low-carbon energy. A lighter site also ranks better: Core Web Vitals improve mechanically.
How to scope the project without blowing the budget
Three decisions drive the final cost. First, the audit scope: auditing 20 representative pages is enough, there is no need to analyse 400 news items. Second, the level of ambition: targeting Ecoindex B on key journeys is realistic, targeting A everywhere forces visual sacrifices that the communications team will often reject. Third, content governance: without editorial rules (maximum image weight, lean video hosting, archiving obsolete PDFs), the site gains weight again within 18 months.
Allow 8 to 14 weeks between the audit and go-live, and align the eco-design statement with your sustainability report calendar so the figures can be checked by your assurance provider.
Mini case study
Helen, head of sustainability at a wine trading company with 620 employees, must report digital impact in her first CSRD report. Her site gets 600,000 page views a year.
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- RGESN audit: EUR 5,500 excl. VAT
- Low-impact redesign: EUR 42,000 excl. VAT, including EUR 4,800 sobriety premium (about 11%)
- Hosting savings: EUR 230 x 12 = EUR 2,760 per year
- Emissions reduction: 0.66 t CO2e per year, documented with Ecoindex
The sobriety premium pays for itself in under 2 years through lower hosting alone, before counting the conversion gain from a page that loads twice as fast. Above all, Helen has a quantified indicator and a public statement to attach to the report.
FAQ
Is the RGESN mandatory for a private company?
No, it is not imposed on private companies in 2026. It does serve as a reference grid to justify digital indicators in a CSRD report, and an audit costs EUR 3,000 to 8,000 excl. VAT.
Does a low-impact site have to look plain?
No. Sobriety mainly concerns media and script weight. A polished design remains possible at 0.8 MB per page, compared with 3.5 MB on average today.
How long does a full project take?
Count 2 to 3 weeks of audit then 8 to 12 weeks of redesign. The eco-design statement can be published at go-live.
How do we quantify emissions in the CSRD report?
Multiply annual page views by an estimate of grams of CO2e per page (Ecoindex method, 1 to 3 g). Present the result as an estimate and document the method.
Does SEO benefit?
Yes, halving load time improves Core Web Vitals. Lighter sites often gain 10 to 20% organic traffic within 6 months, depending on competition.
Let's scope your project. Send us your URL and your CSRD timeline: we will price the RGESN audit, the low-impact redesign and indicator tracking with an indicative budget and a firm timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
