Survey | Sustainability: Where do Swiss SMEs stand?

Swiss SMEs consider sustainability issues important, but only a few have clear strategies or report on them. Only about 18% of the companies questioned report on sustainability. Around 26% of the companies are currently preparing a sustainability report, while around 56% are not currently planning any sustainability reporting. Almost all companies surveyed assume that sustainability reporting will gain in importance in the future.

Download the study sustainably (available in German)

• 18

  % produce a sustainability report

• 26

  % are currently working on the preparation of a sustainability report

• 56

  % are currently not planning any sustainability reporting

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.  

• 18% of the companies surveyed already produce a sustainability report on an annual basis, the majority of which are larger companies.
• 70% of the companies that prepare a sustainability report predominantly apply the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
• 26% of the companies surveyed that have not yet prepared a sustainability report plan to do so for the first time within the next three years.
• At 56%, the majority of the companies surveyed state that they do not currently produce a sustainability report.
• The main reasons given for not producing a sustainability report are the lack of requirements on the part of the stakeholders and the lack of human resources.
• The companies see the lack of or insufficient know-how, as well as the difficult availability of data material, as the greatest challenges in the implementation of sustainability reporting.