Sustainability means Business

Why SMEs can't afford to miss out

In recent years, EU regulations have increasingly required major economic players to commit to sustainability, prompting banks and financial institutions, public authorities, and large companies to structure their business models around the integration of sustainability criteria.

Based on our experience, a stronger commitment by SMEs to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues translates into long-term growth opportunities:

In 2023, Italian SMEs with the highest sustainability performance recorded a financing disbursement rate 11% above the national average.
Over €5 billion have been disbursed by major Italian Banking Groups in subsidized loans for SME sustainability and ecological transition projects.
Public Institutions have contributed more than €9 billion in funds and loans to support the sustainable transition of the Italian business ecosystem.
More than 50% of Large Companies have already integrated supplier sustainability performance assessments into their procurement processes.

To strengthen their competitive positioning and unlock new opportunities for growth and access to capital, SMEs are encouraged to adopt an Integrated Sustainability Model—embarking on a strategic, virtuous path based on three key pillars.

Governance: Define roles and responsibilities for managing internal and external stakeholders and monitoring performance.
Strategy: Establish clear guidelines and objectives, including a Sustainability Plan integrated into the Industrial Plan, with specific targets.
Reporting: Prepare a transparent Sustainability Disclosure tailored to the specific needs of stakeholders.

SMEs can improve their attractiveness to the financial community and access subsidized credit lines by developing sustainability strategies and disclosures.