VSME Standard for Swiss SMEs: Complete Guide
Everything Swiss SMEs need to know about the VSME sustainability reporting standard — modules, data points, and practical steps.
What Is VSME and Who Is It For?
The VSME (Voluntary Standard for non-listed Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) is a sustainability reporting framework created by EFRAG specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. Adopted as EU Commission Recommendation C(2025) 4984 in July 2025, it offers a proportionate alternative to the full ESRS standards that apply to large companies.
The standard is designed for companies that:
- Have fewer than 250 employees
- Are not publicly listed
- Need to respond to sustainability data requests from customers, banks, or investors
- Want a credible, standardised framework without the complexity of full ESRS
Why Is VSME Becoming Important?
The CSRD Cascade Effect
The EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies to report Scope 3 emissions — which includes their entire supply chain. When a large German manufacturer needs to report emissions from its Swiss SME suppliers, those suppliers receive data requests. VSME provides the standardised answer.
The EU Value Chain Cap
Expected as a delegated act in June 2026, the Value Chain Cap will legally limit what large companies can request from SME suppliers to the VSME data points. This transforms VSME from a voluntary framework into the industry standard for supply chain sustainability data.
Swiss Legal Context
Under Art. 964a CO, Swiss companies with 500+ employees must already report on sustainability. A planned revision may lower this to 250 employees, affecting approximately 3,500 additional companies — and dramatically increasing data requests to their SME suppliers.
The VSME Basic Module: Section by Section
The Basic Module covers 11 disclosure requirements with approximately 46 data points:
| Section | Content | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| B1 | Company identification | Name, legal form, NACE code, revenue, balance sheet, employees |
| B2 | Sustainability practices | Written policy? Reduction targets? Future initiatives? |
| B3 | Energy and emissions | Electricity kWh, heating fuel, fleet fuel → Scope 1+2 in tCO2e |
| B4 | Pollution | PRTR reporting obligation (yes/no) |
| B5 | Biodiversity | Operations near protected areas (yes/no) |
| B6 | Water | Total water consumption in m³ |
| B7 | Waste | Total, hazardous, recycled (tonnes) |
| B8 | Workforce | Headcount by gender, contract type, turnover rate |
| B9 | Health and safety | Work-related injuries, fatalities, lost days |
| B10 | Remuneration | CBA coverage, training hours, minimum wage compliance |
| B11 | Governance | Anti-corruption policies, whistleblowing, incidents |
For Swiss companies, GHG emissions are calculated using official KBOB emission factors (2009/1:2022 v8.0):
| Energy Source | Factor | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity (Swiss mix) | 0.125 | kg CO2e/kWh |
| Heating Oil | 3.24 | kg CO2e/L |
| Natural Gas | 0.230 | kg CO2e/kWh |
| Diesel | 3.24 | kg CO2e/L |
| Petrol | 3.00 | kg CO2e/L |
Common Misunderstandings
"VSME is mandatory." It is not. The standard is a recommendation, not a regulation. It becomes practically necessary when supply chain partners require sustainability data.
"It is the same as ESRS." ESRS has over 1,000 data points and requires double materiality assessment. VSME has 46 data points with no materiality assessment required.
"SMEs need Scope 3 data." Not in the Basic Module. Scope 3 is excluded because the data is disproportionately difficult for small companies to collect.
"You need external help." The Basic Module uses data most SMEs already have — energy bills, payroll records, waste invoices. A CEO or CFO can complete it without a consultant.
How to Complete Your First Declaration
- Collect your data (30-60 minutes): energy bills, HR records, waste invoices, annual accounts
- Choose your tool: EFRAG Excel template (free, manual) or QuickVSME (CHF 49, guided wizard with automatic KBOB calculations)
- Fill in the declaration (30-60 minutes with a guided tool): the wizard walks you through each section
- Upload evidence: attach utility bills and source documents for audit readiness
- Generate your PDF: export in German, English, French, or Italian — ready to send
Sources
QuickVSME Team • Sustainability Experts