Report on social sustainability activities of my firm
Why Create This Report?
Reporting social sustainability activities can benefit an SME in several practical ways:
Build trust with customers and partners
Transparent reporting shows that the company cares about people, fairness, and well-being. This strengthens credibility and can attract customers who prefer responsible businesses.
Improve employee engagement and retention
When an SME tracks and reports its actions—such as training, safety, inclusion, or well-being—it signals commitment to its workforce. This can boost motivation, reduce turnover, and make recruitment easier.
Identify gaps and opportunities
Reporting helps SMEs see what they are already doing well and where improvements could bring value—such as better teamwork, safer working conditions, or more inclusive practices.
Enhance competitiveness and access to markets
More large companies and public buyers expect suppliers to show social sustainability practices. Simple reporting gives SMEs a concrete advantage in tenders and supply chains.
Support long-term resilience
By focusing on people-centered practices, SMEs build stronger, healthier organizations that are better able to adapt and grow.
Start building my sustainability report now with this open access template
Social sustainability report of my firm
After filling out the fields below, you will receive a social sustainability report for your firm that you can download or send to your e-mail. You can share this report on your website, social media, with your customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. You can also use this report to track your yearly progress in social sustainability and compare how deeper engagement benefited your business, the people in your organization and community.
Choose this report if...
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You want a simple public-facing report to explain your social practices.
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You want to build internal awareness and strengthen your business through integration.
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You want to voluntarily discuss your actions related to EU sustainability standards.
Useful resources
- EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) (opens_new_window)
- EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) (opens_new_window)
- VSME – Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for SMEs (opens_new_window)
- DEI4SME Project Website (opens_new_window)
- Free tool to complete double materiality assessment (ESG Tool) (opens_new_window)
Some of the main terms
Social sustainability: Ajmal et al. (2018) define social sustainability in business as the integration of practices that promote human well-being, fairness, and societal development across organizational operations. Rather than limiting sustainability to environmental and economic factors, businesses must address core social issues that influence both internal functioning and wider societal outcomes. Social sustainability has three interconnected dimensions: "(1) Safety and security (i.e., fair labor practices, health and safety at work); (2) Learning and growth (i.e., education and training, job security, employment); and (3) Community development (i.e., diversity, equity, and inclusion, social involvement, human rights, consumer and product responsibility)" (Ajmal et. al, 2018; Šilenskytė et al., 2024, p. 2).
Why social sustainability matters for business success? "employees discriminated against, unhealthy, or working in poor conditions are unlikely to think about the firm's strategy, which requires them to focus on a more efficient use of the firm's resources, or to create innovations that will make the firm's products more environmentally friendly. On the other hand, appropriate treatment of employees, inclusion and the appreciation of diversity, and the alignment of individual and firm needs can all lead to the workforce being more committed to the firm's strategic goals, and being innovative and reciprocal (Machado & Davim, 2018; Shore et al., 2011; Šilenskytė, 2020; Šilenskytė et al., 2022)." (Šilenskytė et al., 2024, p. 3-4).
Source: Šilenskytė, A., Cordova, M., Schmitz, M.A., Toh, S. M. "Introduction: Social sustainability in business education" (p. 1-23), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-50168-5_1
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a conceptual framework that promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people, especially populations that have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination because of their background, identity, disability, etc.
DIVERSITY
Refers to the representation or composition of various social identity groups in a work group, organisation, or community.
EQUITY
Involves providing resources according to the need to help diverse populations achieve their highest state of health and other functioning.
INCLUSION
Strives for an environment that offers affirmation, celebration, and appreciation of different approaches, styles, perspectives, and experiences.
Source: dei4sme.eu
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The report is generated locally and sent directly to your email. Estimated time to complete: 45-60 minutes
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