What is the VSME standard for sustainability reporting?
The VSME (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs) is a voluntary EU standard for sustainability reporting tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises. Recommended by the EU Commission on 30 July 2025 and developed by EFRAG, it features just 147 data points compared to over 1,100 under the CSRD standard for large corporates. With ESG Lift, SMEs can generate their ESG reporting and VSME-compliant reports in 1 to 3 hours, starting from €590/year.
What is the VSME standard?
VSME stands for Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs. It serves as the European counterpart to the CSRS/ESRS framework for large corporations, but has been designed specifically to be more streamlined and practical for smaller enterprises.
Who is the VSME standard for?
The VSME is tailored for non-listed SMEs—defined as businesses with fewer than 250 employees, an annual turnover below €50 million, or a balance sheet total under €25 million. Although voluntary, this ESG reporting framework is increasingly requested by banks, major corporate clients, and supply chain partners as proof of sustainability performance.
How many data points does VSME contain?
The VSME framework comprises a total of 147 data points: 100 within the basic module (covering 11 areas) and 47 in the optional supplementary module (covering 9 areas). In comparison, the ESRS standard for large enterprises subject to CSRD mandates contains over 1,100 data points.
How do I generate a VSME report with ESG Lift?
ESG Lift guides SMEs step-by-step through all VSME data points. The platform features intuitive questionnaires, the integrated AI assistant 'VSME Assist', automated carbon footprint calculation in accordance with the GHG Protocol, and EFRAG-compliant PDF report exports. Pricing plans: €590/year (up to 10 employees), €890/year (up to 50 employees), €1,590/year (up to 250 employees).
The VSME Standard explained: what it is, who it applies to, how many data points it requires, and how SMEs can implement it in just 1–3 hours using ESG Lift.