The Easiest Path to Sustainability Reporting for SMBs

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) are currently facing increasing pressure to report on sustainability. What should be a strategic tool has become a time-consuming burden for many—a "jungle" of forms from customers, banks, and investors. Each form requires different data and formatting, making the process complicated, fragmented, and inefficient.

But there is an easier way. VSME (Voluntary SME Reporting Standard) is a new, voluntary sustainability standard designed specifically for SMBs. It was created to reduce the burden and give businesses a tool to communicate sustainability in a uniform way. This standard is not just a report; it is a foundation for improving a company's sustainability work and enhancing its value.

VSME, or the Voluntary SME Reporting Standard, is a standard that helps small and medium-sized businesses report on environmental and social factors. Unlike the extensive requirements for large enterprises, the VSME standard is scaled and adapted for SMBs. It is proportional, easy to use, and ensures that you avoid an "overkill" of details. This allows you to focus on the most important aspects of your company's sustainability work, without being overwhelmed by a massive regulatory framework.

1 - Fewer forms: One standard everyone recognizes

VSME was created to replace the endless stream of questionnaires from customers, investors, and banks. By using one common standard, you can respond to inquiries in a language everyone understands. This drastically cuts down on time and costs while making the business easier to compare with others in the market.

2 - Better access to financing and contracts

The purpose of VSME reporting is to meet the information needs of financial institutions and large companies in the value chain. As the EU Commission encourages large companies to base their requests on VSME, it is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for your business. A good VSME report can give you an advantage when it comes to securing new contracts and better loan terms.

3 - Proportional and easy to get started with

The standard is designed to be flexible for SMBs. You can start with the basic module (B1–B11), which covers the most essential areas, and add a more detailed module if the need arises. This allows you to start at a pace that suits your business, without requiring significant resources.

4 - Compatible with major standards (without being overkill)

VSME covers the same basic topics as ESRS, which applies to large enterprises, but in a much more manageable form. This makes your business future-ready and easier to scale up if you grow. In addition, it becomes easier to provide data based on ESRS or SFDR for customers and partners.

5- Digital solutions: From easy to easier with Energi.ai

With our new VSME module, sustainability reporting has never been easier. We have taken the official European VSME standard and built it into a user-friendly, digital solution that automates the process for you. The module consists of two levels, a basic and a comprehensive version, which gives you the flexibility to adapt the report to your business size and needs.

By following the intuitive guide and the built-in help texts, you can quickly fill out all reporting points. What is usually time-consuming becomes streamlined. For example, relevant emissions data can be automatically imported from our climate reporting solution, which saves you significant work.

If you use another tool, it is just as easy to manually enter the numbers.The result is a complete report that you can quickly publish and share with key stakeholders such as banks, customers, and suppliers. With this module, you have everything you need to create a structured, credible, and action-oriented report that gives you a clear competitive advantage.

6- Official Support and a Signal from the EU

In July 2025, the EU Commission adopted an official recommendation on voluntary reporting for SMBs based on VSME. This is a strong political signal that VSME is "the right way to go" to strengthen SMB competitiveness. Norwegian authorities have also recommended VSME as a future standard for sustainability reporting.

VSME reporting is not just about filling out forms. The standard is also designed to help SMBs track their own sustainability performance and manage based on specific goals, whether it concerns emissions, energy, work environment, or governance. With VSME, you can translate sustainability ambitions into "sustainability in practice" and make your business more robust for the future.

Sustainability reporting doesn't have to be a burden. With the right approach and the right tools, it can become a source of growth and efficiency. Contact us for a no-obligation demo today and see how easy it can be.