The VSME is a voluntary ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosure standard specifically designed for unlisted SMEs wishing to publish their sustainability report.
It is based on two modules:
A basic module: 11 declarative disclosures (GHG emissions, working conditions, anti-corruption measures, etc.)
A comprehensive module*: 9 additional key points to address more advanced stakeholder expectations (investors, banks, etc.)
This standard provides a simple and structured framework to help SMEs better communicate their ESG commitments in their reporting.
*Applying the basic module is a prerequisite for applying the comprehensive module.
1. Align with market expectations
A good sustainability report should primarily reflect your commitments, priorities, and progress in a clear and transparent way. And the good news is, the VSME was specifically designed to support you in this process! 💡
2. Structure your report clearly
To ensure transparency and alignment with your CSR policy, your report must have a strong and reliable structure. Following the VSME modules helps you structure your content clearly, avoid repetition and make it easier to read and therefore easier to understand your ESG strategy. Starting with the basic module will allow you to establish your initial indicators, and move on to the comprehensive module if needed. 😉
3. Make your data clear and transparent
Numbers can be used to tell many different stories. But to make them truly impactful, explain them: show your areas for improvement and be transparent about your progress and future path.
At Pomelo-Paradigm, we recently produced our sustainability report based on the VSME framework. This structure allowed us to organize our approach in a clear way, tailored to our key challenges. We have learned from this experience that the content of a sustainability report is as important as its format. That’s why we chose to publish it in XHTML format, which complies with European standards and is ideal for digital publication. And with Pomdoc DM, our Disclosure Management solution, it couldn’t be easier: this format is supported natively.
VSME is more than an additional standard: it’s a real opportunity for SMEs to organize their ESG efforts and efficiently meet market demands.
With a collaborative SaaS DM solution like Pomdoc DM, publishing a clear and compliant report is piece of cake!
