Italy advances ESG reporting for SMEs and major corporations

Italian business organizations and corporations are increasingly focusing on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting to enhance competitiveness and meet market demands.

Unioncamere and the Emilia-Romagna Chambers of Commerce are supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Vsme (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs). This voluntary standard provides a simplified method for companies to assess their sustainability levels and prepare simplified sustainability reports in alignment with European standards.

In Umbria, the Chamber of Commerce has conducted 116 sustainability assessments in 2024, assisting companies with environmental and digital transitions through training and monitoring. Meanwhile, Lidl Italia has released its first sustainability magazine detailing its 2025 fiscal results. The retailer reported that 58% of its truck fleet uses alternative fuels, 44.5% of its stores have solar panels, and it successfully diverted 79.2% of its waste from landfills through recycling and reuse.