VSME – Voluntary Standard for
Small- and Medium-size Enterprises

UNIQA Sustainable’s VSME solution

UNIQA Sustainable’s VSME (Voluntary Standard for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises) solution is tailored to help businesses report on their sustainability practices. By offering a comprehensive overview of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics, VSME empowers enterprises to track their sustainability performance accurately.

The VSME solution addresses the immediate needs of sustainability reporting and shows companies in which areas they can improve their ESG performance. By integrating ESG metrics into daily operations, businesses can make informed decisions that align with both their strategic goals and regulatory requirements.

Benefits for businesses

Preparedness for stakeholder requests – Being prepared to provide sustainability data upon request from financial institutions, business partners or other stakeholders.
Better risk management – By identifying and managing sustainability-related risks, businesses can reduce their likelihood of occurrence and minimize their impact on operations.
Better cost efficiency – Sustainability practices also contribute to cost savings through more efficient resource use, reduced waste, and enhanced energy efficiency.
Competitive advantage – Sustainability initiatives provide a competitive advantage by attracting customers, investors and employees who prefer resilient and ethical businesses.
Improved reputation – Companies that adopt sustainable practices are often seen as responsible and resilient, enhancing their public image and reputation.
Accelerating innovation – Sustainable practices drive innovation by encouraging new solutions and investments in green technologies.

What sets us apart

UNIQA Sustainable’s VSME solution is designed as a user-friendly and intuitive tool, eliminating the need for an internal ESG reporting expert. The tool is structured as a questionnaire featuring clearly defined questions, each supported by practical guidance to ensure ease of use. Additionally, our sustainability experts are available to provide personalized support whenever needed.

As part of the UNIQA Sustainable product suite, SMEs can seamlessly calculate all data required by the VSME standard, including greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate risk and vulnerability analysis.

Curious?

This is how working with UNIQA Sustainable Business Solutions could look like:

VSME – Nachhaltigkeitsbericht für KMU

Ein Metallverarbeiter in Tschechien nutzt das VSME-Tool, um ESG-Daten strukturiert zu erfassen. Der Bericht hilft bei der Kommunikation mit Banken und Kunden, stärkt die Reputation und zeigt konkrete Potenziale zur Verbesserung der Energieeffizienz.

Process steps

Kick-off

The kick-off meeting takes place between sustainability expert and customer. The purpose of the meeting is to clarify the project scope, objectives and to identify key responsibilities, to understand roles and outline the specific deliverables.

Data collection and advisory

UNIQA Sustainable collaborates closely with the customer to gather all necessary data, by using a user-friendly questionnaire. Our sustainability experts provide continuous advisory support to ensure accurate and comprehensive data collection. This includes guidance on the specific requirements of the VSME standard and assistance with any challenges faced during the data collection process.

Report preparation and finalization

Upon completion of the draft, UNIQA Sustainable sends the report to the client for their review. The client evaluates the document, ensuring that the final report aligns with their expectations and business objectives. This collaborative review process is crucial for the accuracy and reliability of the final report.

Continuous collaboration

UNIQA Sustainable remains engaged with the client, providing ongoing support to address new challenges and to integrate any changes in ESG regulations or best practices. This ensures that their sustainability efforts remain robust and up-to-date.

What businesses will receive:

The final VSME report is a detailed document that offers a status quo of their ESG impact.

Dieser Bericht ist nicht nur für interne Zwecke von Nutzen, sondern auch ein wichtiges Instrument für die Kommunikation mit verschiedenen Interessengruppen wie Finanzinstituten, Kund:innen, Mitarbeiter:innen und Geschäftspartnern. Für Finanzinstitute zeigt der Bericht das Engagement des Unternehmens für Nachhaltigkeit und kann dessen Attraktivität für langfristige Investitionen steigern.
Kunden können die Bemühungen um nachhaltige Praktiken erkennen, was ihr Vertrauen und ihre Loyalität gegenüber der Marke stärkt. Mitarbeiter hingegen erhalten einen Einblick in das Engagement des Unternehmens für Nachhaltigkeit.

Moreover, the report serves as a baseline for a company’s sustainability ambition that UNIQA Sustainable continues to support even after its completion. Businesses may find value in periodic updates and follow-up consultations to address emerging challenges and incorporate additional services provided by UNIQA Sustainable, such as carbon footprint calculations or climate risk analysis.

Secure the future of your business with UNIQA Sustainable Business Solutions.