The VSME (Voluntary Standard for non-listed Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) is the European standard designed to give non-listed companies a single sustainability-report format. It comes in a Base module, with the essential indicators on emissions, energy, waste and workforce, and a Comprehensive module, which adds the information typically required by banks and large clients.
VSME and GHG Protocol, explained without the runaround
What to report, how to measure emissions and how to respond to banks and clients. The key references, with a practical approach.
01 · The standard
VSME: a common language for SME sustainability
Its practical purpose: organize a consistent, reusable information base for requests from banks and clients.
EFRAG · VSMEHow Envify covers it
The platform generates the ESG VSME report in the Base and Comprehensive modules directly from the data extracted from your documents.
02 · The methodology
GHG Protocol: how emissions are calculated
The GHG Protocol is the world's reference methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions. It splits emissions into Scope 1 (direct: fuels and company vehicles), Scope 2 (indirect from purchased energy) and Scope 3 (the value chain: purchases, transport, travel).
Actual consumption from bills, invoices and records is a solid starting point. Where primary data is missing, estimates and secondary data can be used, with documented sources and assumptions.
How Envify covers it
The calculation engine applies the GHG Protocol with up-to-date emission factors and works on primary data extracted from the documents.
03 · The market push
The requests coming from the value chain
Banks and clients may request ESG data to assess risks, suppliers and the value chain. Even an SME without direct reporting obligations may therefore receive sustainability questionnaires.
For a supplier company, the most efficient way to answer is a solid ESG VSME report, the format designed precisely for this.
How Envify covers it
The report Envify generates is designed to answer supply-chain requests: comparable indicators, time series and traceability.
See how it worksIs the ESG VSME report mandatory?
No. VSME is a voluntary standard for non-listed SMEs. It helps organize data requested by banks and clients, but does not automatically replace every questionnaire or specific requirement.
What's the difference between the VSME Base and Comprehensive modules?
The Base module covers the essential indicators (emissions, energy, waste, workforce). The Comprehensive adds the information required by banks and large clients.
My company is small: why do I get ESG questionnaires?
Banks and clients may need supplier data to assess risks and report on the value chain. VSME provides a common basis for responding and reducing repeated requests.