Advisory

VSME: The new standard for SME sustainability reporting

By:

Niels Breugelmans

01 Dec 20252 min read

Sustainability is no longer an option, but a necessity. Yet many SMEs struggle with the question: How do I get started without being overwhelmed by complex reporting requirements? That's where VSME comes in – the latest acronym in the world of sustainability.

Contents

What is VSME?

VSME stands for Voluntary SME Standard (PDF 1,6Mb), a sustainability guideline developed by EFRAG specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The purpose of this VSME Standard?

To provide an overview of essential sustainability data that is valuable to measure.
To set limits on what information stakeholders (banks, customers, suppliers) can reasonably request.

VSME provides you with a practical, proportional approach that is in line with the reality of SMEs.

How does the VSME standard work?

The standard consists of two modules:

Basic Module: Focus on quantitative data that is readily available through accounting, statutory environmental reports, or social balance sheets.
Comprehensive Module: Focuses on qualitative information about strategy, objectives, and actions.

Together, these modules—supplemented by your company's story—form a solid basis for a sustainability report.

Why is this important?

Understanding your sustainability impact:

Internally: to map out your strategy and opportunities for improvement. Given that this information is often linked to accounting and environmental taxation, there is always a monetary gain to be made here.
Externally: the VSME standard also serves as a best practice, limiting the information that a reporting customer can request from non-reporting suppliers.

The banking sector has decided to request sustainability information based on VSME. Thanks to the Isabel Kube platform, you can submit this data once a year, after which banks share it among themselves. The platform even includes AI functionalities for collecting data. AI (artificial intelligence) can provide a good starting point and map out data sources, but validation of these figures remains necessary.

How can Grant Thornton help you?

Although VSME is designed as a do-it-yourself package, we understand that this is not always easy. We offer customized support:

Data collection & validation: We help collect and verify figures, including a simple Scope 1 & 2 carbon footprint.
Identifying missing data: Some data is not immediately available. We assist in calculating and supplementing missing information.
Determining strategy & priorities: Together, we develop a sustainability strategy and translate it into concrete actions.
Preparing reports: Based on your strategy and data, we create a clear, compliant sustainability report.

With our expertise, we ensure that your company not only meets expectations, but also creates value by integrating sustainability into your strategy.

Call to Action

Would you like to know how your SME can get started with VSME and which steps will have the most impact? Contact our team of sustainability consultants. Together, we can make sustainability workable and valuable.