Since 2024, Swiss SMEs have been subject to new climate and environmental reporting requirements. The association Go for Impact aims to support them in this transition. Its Director, Felix Meier, outlines the solutions and tools the organization makes available to companies.
Several tens of thousands of Swiss SMEs are indirectly affected by the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (*CSRD), which entered into force in 2024. This regulation imposes new climate and environmental reporting requirements on large companies, including greenhouse gas emissions reporting. However, SMEs often fall indirectly within the scope of this regulation through their clients, who are required to ensure that their suppliers comply. The key issue is therefore to align rapidly with the applicable legal framework for clients based in the European Union to provide ESG data. Founded in 2018, the Zurich-based association Go for Impact offers free support and practical tools to facilitate this transition.
Go for Impact presents itself as a platform for cooperation between business, academia, NGOs and public authorities. How does this collaboration work?
Felix Meier: Members of Go for Impact share the conviction that, even without major changes to the political and regulatory framework, companies can make significant progress in protecting the climate and natural resources, and we aim to support them. Rather than focusing on legislative amendments, we prioritize concrete measures that can be implemented immediately.
What are the main challenges for SMEs in meeting the new CSRD requirements?
Meier: SMEs are often indirectly affected, as their large clients are required to collect environmental, social and governance (ESG) data from their suppliers. Companies that fail to take these changes into account risk losing important clients in the medium term. It is advisable to seek external expertise or to develop internal competencies in order to collect and provide the necessary data to their clients. Companies may also use specialized software to understand how CSRD requirements apply to their activities and how to comply. Go for Impact supports SMEs in this regard, in particular by providing an overview of available software solutions on its website.
You offer a ''free initial advisory session''. What does this service involve?
Meier: The initial advisory session serves as a first point of orientation. We address key questions: where does the company currently stand in terms of climate and environmental reporting? What challenges lie ahead? What is the most appropriate way to proceed? For export-oriented companies, for example, it may be advisable to adopt internationally recognized instruments such as the Science Based Targets initiative, which enables companies to identify best practices and set CO2 emission reduction targets. We support SMEs in making such strategic decisions.
How can companies concretely reduce their environmental footprint?
Meier: The market of digital tools, instruments and consulting services is large and difficult to navigate. In-depth clarification is therefore highly recommended. For many SMEs, an internationally compatible approach is important, because failing to adopt one can mean having to repeat the work multiple times, as different countries and business partners may require different reporting methods and standards. In general, this involves conducting a materiality analysis: what impact does my company have on the environment and the climate, and to which risks is it exposed? This includes physical climate risks such as extreme weather events. The floods that affected Valais in 2024, for example, caused substantial damage to industrial companies such as the aluminum producer Novelis.
How do you support the value chain in this transition?
Meier: One of the main current challenges lies in data collection. Uniform standards are often lacking, which generates considerable additional work. For suppliers of companies such as Migros, Coop, Valora, Lidl or Aldi, the question is whether they can prepare their sustainability data once in a standardized manner or whether they must meet different requirements for each client. Go for Impact contributes its experience to the development of practical and harmonized solutions.
How do you help companies avoid greenwashing?
Meier: The principle of "do well and communicate it" remains valid, but it must be applied with restraint. The essential point is to communicate with honesty, transparency and proportionality. A company does not become sustainable solely by eliminating plastic bags. When an entire company presents itself as "green" on the basis of isolated and limited measures, this constitutes greenwashing. In some cases, companies make mistakes due to insufficient information and expertise in these matters. It is therefore crucial to clarify the actual situation before communicating externally. Go for Impact has developed a practical working tool for SMEs to help reduce these risks. It includes a theoretical guide, a webinar (in German) and a self-assessment tool available to employers.
*The CSRD applies to companies that meet at least two of the following three criteria: a balance sheet total of more than EUR 25 million, net turnover of more than EUR 50 million and/or more than 250 employees.
