New
- New
  
  Recent studies about SME , important events and advice from entrepreneurs: this column collect all the articles of current events published on the SME Portal.
  
  News
  
  Keep track of news in English from the SME Portal.
  
  Theme of the month
  
  Detailed information on an SME-related topic.
  
  Interview
  
  Here you can find the last Interviews published in English on the SME Portal.
  
  SME Newsletter
  
  Exciting news and useful information for founders and entrepreneurs. Well-researched, informative and to the point.
  
  Events calendar
  
  This calendar provides SMEs with information about useful events for people who hold an important position in the company.
  
  Overview of ongoing legal reforms
  
  The SME portal constantly develops its information package. This new section presents ongoing legislative reforms.
  
  Publications
  
  In this section, you'll find reports and reference brochures for SMEs in Switzerland.
Practical knowledge
- Pratical knowledge
  
  This section contains information, addresses and useful links for entrepreneurs about the creation of an SME in Switzerland or developments in the international scene for instance.
  
  Setting up
  
  Checklists and detailed information about setting up a business: choosing the right legal structure, steps to follow for market analysis, business plans and registration in the trade register.
  
  Management
  
  Practical tips for running a business successfully: innovation methods, marketing tools, product certification and social media presence using e-commerce.
  
  Transferring
  
  Tips for transferring and taking over a business: the various scenarios, the business valuation methods and setting the purchase price. The procedure to follow in the event of liquidation.
  
  Finances
  
  All you need to know about loans, leasing and factoring, traditional and alternative financing plans, economic promotion, tax relief and risk management.
  
  Foreign trade
  
  Useful information for SMEs on foreign trade: federal customs administration and formalities for import-export, opening an establishment or a subsidiary abroad, risk control.
  
  Personnel
  
  Here you will find legal provisions, relevant facts and information on staff management: recruitment, staff development, partial unemployment and social insurance, labor law, occupational safety.
  
  Useful addresses and links
  
  Several organizations offer support or important services for SMEs managers in Switzerland. The following section lists these essential addresses and internet links.
  
  Facts and figures on SMEs in Switzerland
  
  The Confederation actively supports SMEs, major players in the economy. Explanations and statistics.
Trendscurrent page
- Trends
  
  In this section you will find articles on current developments in information technologies as well as on topics of corporate social responsibility.
  
  Cybersecurity
  
  One out of three Swiss SMEs has already fallen victim to a cyberattack, and the risk continues to increase, according to the National Center for Cybersecurity (NCSC). How can one best protect their company against this risk?
  
  Digitalization of SMEs in Switzerland: A key factor
  
  Companies must adapt their operations and digitalize to remain competitive. Definitions and examples.
  
  Opportunities of artificial intelligence
  
  Due its data processing capacity, artificial intelligence offers Swiss companies new opportunities.
  
  Prediction and Big data
  
  Called the black gold of the digital world, Big Data offers new perspectives to companies that treat them.
  
  Blockchain sharing
  
  Blockchain encompasses, in a secure log, digital transactions by eliminating intermediaries.
  
  The internet of Things (IoT): Uses and opportunities
  
  Connected and intelligent, objects today have their own digital identity. Their use involves as many challenges as they do possibilities.
  
  SMEs adopt cloud computing
  
  Increasingly used by companies, cloud computing makes it possible to store large volumes of data on secure external servers.
  
  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
  
  Turning to corporate social responsibility is a way for SMEs to become greener and more socially conscious and therefore optimize their production.
SME policy
- SME policy
  
  Switzerland plays an active role in supporting companies. This section presents the various initiatives in Switzerland's SME support policy.
  
  Simplifying administration
  
  Too much bureaucracy slows down companies. The SME portal presents initiatives that Switzerland has introduced to reduce the administrative burden.
  
  Developing e-governance
  
  The Swiss authorities are establishing online services to make it possible for SMEs to conduct their administrative tasks more efficiently.
  
  Promoting innovation
  
  Innovation is a driver of the Swiss economy. The SME portal presents Innosuisse, the Swiss innovation agency.
  
  Facilitating access to financing
  
  Do you need capital to establish a company? The SME portal shows the various financing systems supported by the Confederation.
  
  Encouraging exports
  
  The Switzerland Global Enterprise (SGE) agency is committed to helping SMEs increase their sales abroad.
  
  Export risk insurance
  
  Selling your products overseas is not without risk. Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV) offers SMEs helpful protection.
  
  Professional training
  
  Swiss SMEs need a qualified labour force. The Confederation works to strongly promote apprenticeships and continuing professional development.
  
  Reconciling work and family
  
  Taking family needs into account benefits companies. The Confederation encourages flexibility in personnel management within SMEs.
About
- About
  
  About the SME Portal
  
  The SME Portal provides a large amount of information to small and medium-sized enterprises.
  
  Link building for SMEs aiming at the Swiss market
  
  Do you manage a website aimed at the Swiss market? If so, we would like your assistance in informing a wide audience of information useful to SMEs, from establishment to management to planning succession.
  
  SME Portal Banner
  
  Graphic banners for integration on a web page.

Measuring the sustainability of an end product

To measure the sustainability of an end product, a company must not only take its composition into account, but also its use.

In many cases, a product’s greatest impact on the environment comes from the use made of that product by the customer. However, the design of the product influences the use made of it—hence the need for SMEs to design sustainable products. Seven indicators help measure the environmental impact of an end product:

P1. Recycled/reused content
P2. Recyclability
P3. Renewable materials content
P4. Non-renewable materials intensity
P5. Restricted substances content
P6. Energy consumption intensity
P7. Greenhouse gas emissions intensity

These are listed on the OECD website, where additional information can be found: OECD sustainable manufacturing indicators.

Calculation of sustainability indicators for an end product

To measure these indicators, the company needs to know the proportion of recycled and reused materials, renewable materials and restricted substances contained in its products. These data can be obtained from estimates made when measuring the sustainability of production factors.

Measuring the sustainability of production factors

The weight of each product as well as the total volume of the products should also be known. The company should also be able to estimate the amount of energy consumed on average by its products during one year of use. It is then possible to evaluate the quantity of greenhouse gas generated by its products depending on the type of energy consumed. And lastly, the company should be able to asses the lifetime of its products, for example, by carrying out tests.

The indicators are calculated using the following formulas:

P1. Indicator (as %) of recycled/reused content of products = Weight of recycled/reused content of products / Total weight of all products

The indicator increases with sustainability

P2. Indicator (as %) of recyclability of products = Weight of recyclable content of products / Total weight of all products

The indicator increases with sustainability

P3. Indicator (as %) of renewable materials content of products = Weight of renewable materials content of products / Total weight of all products

The indicator increases with sustainability

P4. Non-renewable materials intensity over product lifetime = Weight in tons of non-renewable content of products / Expected lifetime of products in years

The indicator decreases as sustainability increases

P5. Indicator (as %) of restricted substances content of products = Weight of restricted substances content of products / Total weight of all products

The indicator decreases as sustainability increases

P6. Intensity of energy consumption of product use = (Average annual energy consumption of a product unit in megajoules x Units produced) / Standardization factor

The indicator decreases as sustainability increases

P7. Intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from products = (Average annual greenhouse gas emissions per product unit in tons of CO₂ x Units produced) / Standardization factor

The indicator decreases as sustainability increases

Information relating to standardization factors is available in the section entitled “Standardization of environmental performance indicators”.

Standardization of environmental performance