Sustainability: Where do Swiss SMEs stand?
Mazars and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) have investigated how Swiss SMEs are implementing the trend towards greater transparency in sustainability. Do the companies have a clear sustainability strategy, is this communicated externally and is this done according to a standard or set of rules?
Swiss SMEs consider sustainability issues important, but few have clear strategies or report on them. This was the finding of a study published jointly by the auditing firm Mazars and the ZHAW. According to the study, only around 18% of the companies surveyed report on sustainability. Around 26% of the companies are currently preparing a sustainability report, while around 56% are not currently planning any sustainability reporting, according to the further findings. Almost all companies surveyed assume that sustainability reporting will gain in importance in the future.
Swiss SMEs with a need to catch up in reporting
The majority of the 18% companies surveyed that already prepare a sustainability report on an annual basis are larger companies. 70% of the companies that prepare a sustainability report predominantly use the
Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. Companies that do not currently produce a sustainability report or do not plan to do so cite a lack of requirements from stakeholders and a lack of human resources as reasons. The companies see a lack of or insufficient know-how and the difficult availability of data material as the greatest challenges in the implementation of sustainability reporting.
External support necessary
The methodology of this study is based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative surveys. 500 companies in Switzerland were surveyed. In addition, ten interviews were conducted with experts in the field. In these personal interviews, it became clear that sustainability reporting will continue to increase in importance in the future in general, but also in particular for companies that are not currently affected by the relevant national and international regulations. According to the study, the main driver for the preparation of a sustainability report is external pressure from customers and buyers in a supply chain, but in principle also pressure from the public. The greatest challenges are also often perceived by the interviewees as issues such as the lack of specialist knowledge and the availability of the necessary data material. Due to these challenges, many of the experts believe that companies are dependent on external support.
Sources: www.mazars.ch / www.zhaw.ch/ifi
