Learning Center / Getting Started / 05
Getting Started
Am I required to have a sustainability report?
It depends on the size and type of your company.
Non-listed SME (the majority of SMEs) — No, you are not legally required to have a sustainability report. The VSME is voluntary.
Listed SME — The obligation to report under the CSRD was planned for 2027, but the February 2025 Omnibus proposal suggested that listed SMEs should no longer be covered by the CSRD.
So why create the report?
Because the pressure doesn't come from the law — it comes from the market. If a bank asks for sustainability data to assess credit, if a large client needs ESG information from its suppliers, or if you want to participate in a tender that values ESG criteria, having a VSME report is the simplest way to respond.
The European Commission formally recommends that banks and large companies base their ESG data requests to SMEs on the VSME standard. In practice, this means the VSME is becoming the expected format for these interactions.
Having the report ready before you need it is always easier than doing it under deadline pressure.
Getting Started