Today, sustainability is becoming a key factor in business competitiveness. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU, it means not only responding to legislative requirements but also an opportunity to optimize processes and strengthen relationships with customers and investors.
A sustainability audit is a systematic evaluation of a business’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects. For SMEs, it serves as a tool to identify areas for improvement and to prepare for future market and regulatory demands.
1. Environmental Aspects (E):
2. Social Aspects (S):
3. Governance Aspects (G):
Implementing a sustainability audit can lead to:
For small and medium-sized businesses, it is important to choose an approach that is efficient and tailored to their capacity. Using simplified standards—such as the voluntary standard for non-listed micro and small enterprises (VSME)—can be a suitable solution.
A sustainability audit is not just about meeting legal requirements. It is a strategic tool that can help SMEs optimize their operations, cut costs, and strengthen their market position. With the right tools and approach, even smaller companies can achieve meaningful sustainability benefits.
At Sustainly, we believe that the issue of ESG can be approached pragmatically. There is no need to be afraid of it; most of the work is already done in your company, you just don’t know that ESG is behind it.
Do you want to find out more? Contact Sustainly today!
