15. December 2025
EFRAG publishes VSME Supporting Guides
On 11 December 2025, EFRAG published three Supporting Guides for disclosures under the VSME standard, which were identified as particularly challenging during the public consultation and field test of the VSME in spring 2024. The supporting materials were developed together with EFRAG’s SME Forum and the VSME community. The supporting guides are part of the VSME ecosystem, providing supplementary resources for SMEs and aiming to assist them in reporting sustainability information in accordance with the VSME standard’s comprehensive module.
The three supporting guides have been published on EFRAG’s website, as well as in an interactive format in the newly established ESRS Knowledge Hub. They offer guidance on applying the following disclosures of the VSME comprehensive module:
- The supporting guide for C2 helps SMEs with practical examples across all ten sustainability topics to disclose practices, policies, and future initiatives for the transition towards a more sustainable economy. Five case studies illustrate how these disclosures can be structured and presented clearly.
C3: GHG reduction targets and climate transition
- In Supporting Guide C3, SMEs are provided with a step-by-step guide for setting greenhouse gas reduction targets and, for climate-intensive sectors or voluntary initiatives, for developing a climate transition plan.
C7: Severe negative human rights incidents
- The C7 supporting guide illustrates, with concrete examples of severe human rights incidents, when disclosures are required. It covers confirmed incidents involving workers in the value chain, affected communities, as well as consumers and end users.
On 12 December 2025, EFRAG presented these supporting guides to the public as part of the 3rd SME Forum. It was explained that work on the VSME ecosystem, including the supporting guides, will continue in 2026.