More and more small and medium sized enterprises are being asked by clients, partners (especially large companies required to report under CSRD) or banks to provide ESG information about emissions, resource use, equity, policies and governance.
To respond to these requests without being overwhelmed by complex standards like CSRD, the European Commission together with EFRAG launched the VSME standard, the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs, the first voluntary and simplified ESG reporting framework for small and medium sized enterprises.
.png)
Our VSME advisory services help SMEs adopt quickly the European voluntary sustainability reporting standard. We provide full support for simplified ESG reporting that is aligned with ESRS, so that your company can meet the expectations of clients, banks, partners and EcoVadis.
The external consultant helps you adopt the VSME standard as quickly and correctly as possible, through complete sustainability consulting services, so that your company becomes credible, transparent and prepared for future requirements.
VSME (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs) is a set of voluntary standards created specifically for small and medium sized companies that want to report their ESG performance in a clear, proportionate and internationally recognised way.
This standard was developed by EFRAG (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) and is part of the European reporting package coordinated by the European Commission. It is compatible with ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) applied to large companies. In other words, VSME reporting is a simplified version, but aligned with European requirements, which gives you a long term strategic advantage by ensuring consistency of data across the value chain.
VSME offers a modular framework adapted to the maturity level of your company.
It includes 11 important topics regarding:
- general information about the company and its supply chain
- energy consumption and Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions
- environmental impact and waste management
- social and governance data; general policies and basic indicators
VSME is ideal for companies that report for the first time or that have received a request from a client or partner.
It adds 9 additional requirements:
- climate transition plan
- management of environmental and social risks
- additional indicators on employees and governance structures
- emission reduction targets
- detailed ESG policies and sustainability strategy
This module is perfect for SMEs that want to reach a more advanced level of reporting in order to align with ESG best practices, for example for B Corp or EcoVadis certifications.
A major advantage of VSME is the simplicity of the standard, where you focus more on data and targets than on endless narrative paragraphs. This avoids reporting irrelevant or unnecessary information, significantly reduces complexity and allows you to concentrate on what really matters for your company.
Adopting VSME brings you:
• Transparency and ESG credibility in front of partners, investors and clients.
• Alignment with European regulations, without the effort of full CSRD reporting.
• Easier access to sustainable finance: băncile și investitorii solicită deja informații ESG standardizate.
• Operational efficiency and cost savings, because reporting is proportionate to the company’s resources.
• Future readiness, since VSME can be the basis for a later transition to full ESRS reporting.
• Support for sustainability certifications, where a VSME sustainability report can cover around 40 percent of the requirements for certifications like B Corp or EcoVadis or even alignment with UNGC (United Nations Global Compact)
• Competitive advantage, in a context where large supply chains already request recognised ESG evidence from suppliers and VSME fulfils exactly this function.
The external consultant offers complete VSME and sustainability reporting services adapted to the specific context and capacity of your company. Our process is efficient and results oriented.
We jointly set objectives, deadlines and the people involved in the process (SPOC and internal teams). We create a clear structure for data collection and for drafting the report.
We compare the VSME requirements with the data and policies already existing in your company. We identify what is complete, what is missing and what must be improved for solid reporting and which module (Basic or Comprehensive) is most appropriate.
We help you collect the necessary information (energy consumption, emissions, HR policies, purchasing practices, ESG objectives) and organise it in a format that complies with VSME requirements. At the same time, we help you set realistic and achievable targets for carbon footprint reduction, waste reduction or equal opportunities.
We draft the report in a clear, professional manner aligned with the selected module (Basic or Comprehensive). We ensure it accurately reflects the company’s reality, highlights good practices, and is delivered in a format that’s easy to share with stakeholders (employees, banks, clients, partners).
We perform a complete review of the report and prepare the final version for publication or submission to clients, partners or financial institutions.
After finalizing the report, we help you define concrete improvement steps, develop ESG policies and, if you wish, transition to higher standards such as ESRS.
We offer full support for companies that want to apply European standards in a simple and efficient way. We work with firms across the world and bring a combination of practical experience, rigorous methodology and easy to use tools.
.png)
Real experience in ESG and sustainability reporting:
We have a solid track record of ESG projects and sustainability reports for organisations in different industries. We understand the challenges on the ground and adapt processes to the context of each company.
.png)
Expertiză în ESRS și aplicarea standardelor VSME: LCA identifică și abordează hotspot-urile de emisii pe parcursul lanțului de aprovizionare, ceea ce duce la îmbunătățiri specifice și la o reducere a impactului asupra mediului.
.png)
Soluții personalizate, nu șabloane generice: LCA dezvăluie oportunități de utilizare eficientă și durabilă a resurselor prin evidențierea zonelor de ineficiență și prin sugerarea unor alternative pentru o mai bună conservare a resurselor.
.png)
Full transparency on costs and deliverables:
You know from the beginning what each step involves, how long it takes and what the costs are. No hidden fees, no surprises, just a clear and efficient process from start to finish.
.png)
Instrumente practice pentru VSME: LCA ajută la identificarea și evaluarea riscurilor potențiale pe tot parcursul ciclului de viață al unui produs, permițând organizațiilor să pună în aplicare strategii eficiente de gestionare a riscurilor.
.png)
Construim autonomie, nu dependență: Demonstrarea angajamentului față de sustenabilitate și transparență prin intermediul practicilor LCA consolidează relațiile cu stakeholderi (clienți, investitori), favorizând angajamentul, îmbunătățind reputația mărcii și oferind un avantaj competitiv pe piață.
Companies that choose to work with the external consultant usually see:
• More than 50 percent reduction in time needed for ESG data collection.
• Higher understanding of sustainability topics within internal teams
• Immediate improvement in the relationship with corporate clients (who need VSME data for their own reporting)
• Stronger positioning in front of partners and lenders
• A solid basis for the next stages of ESG reporting
.png)
Choose VSME advisory and the external consultant will help you build proportionate and European level recognised reporting.
Contact us today for a free ESG level assessment for your company and discover how you can turn reporting into a real competitive advantage.
