Sustainability Meets Growth 2025

Manufacturing SMEs and mid-sized companies’ perspectives on environmental sustainability2 What are the attitudes, concerns and challenges for SMEs and mid-sized companies in advancing sustainability? To identify the roadmap and supporting mechanisms most relevant to the context and needs of manufacturing SMEs and mid-sized companies, the SME Sustainability Accelerator conducted a global survey from September 2024 to February 2025, which received valid responses from 60 SMEs and mid-sized companies in diverse sectors (including manufacturing, automotive, chemicals, information technology, retail and consumer goods and agriculture) and geographical areas (Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, East Asia, North America, South-East Asia, Africa and South America) to understand their perspectives, approaches taken, challenges faced and key needs (see Appendix). Some 68% of survey respondents indicated that their organization has a positive perspective on sustainability, with 38% of respondents viewing it as a business opportunity. Only 17% of respondents indicated that their company had minimal or no sustainability strategies in place, highlighting that the majority of SMEs and mid-sized firms are exploring ways to integrate sustainability into core business practices. Additionally, only 18% reported that their companies are trending away from their sustainability targets or had none in place. While it is important to acknowledge the self-reported nature of the survey, the findings nonetheless indicate that SMEs are aware of the importance of sustainability and of taking initial actions towards it. When it comes to what drives such action, 60% of respondents cited customers and market demand as the primary driver for engaging in sustainability initiatives, followed at 23% by regulatory requirements. Sustainability Meets Growth: A Roadmap for SMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturers 9