On the day the United Nations marks Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day i.e. 27 June ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and business management consultancy Profit Impact published the latest in their series of practical sustainability toolkits for SMEs.

The just-published free-of-charge toolkits cover:

• Supply chain code of conduct
• Demystifying environment systems for SMPs (small and medium sized practices)
• Mapping your business goals to the relevant UN SDGs.

The toolkits offer concise practical ways that all MSMEs can start their sustainability journey.

Aleksandra Zaronina-Kirillova, Head of SME Professional Insights, ACCA, who is overseeing the publication of the toolkits, says: ‘Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent about 90% of businesses – and more than 50% of employment worldwide. Global environmental and social challenges can only be addressed appropriately if the SME sector is fully involved. Larger companies are already required to take specific steps and report on their non-financial performance. And those requirements are gradually cascading to SMEs.’

Accountancy and finance professionals will play a leading role in guiding small businesses through the individual needs of their sustainability journey. ACCA has almost 50,000 members working in public practice with a majority of those working in small and medium sized practices and they will be key to embed the SME sustainability journey.

Sarah Whale FCCA, Founder of Profit Impact says: ‘Embracing our sustainable future creates significant opportunities for SMEs to build resilience for themselves, our society, our planet, and our economy. Often this will lead to a reduction of costs, increased talent attraction, and favourable investment rates to develop business. As well as providing a point of differentiation, and improvement of their brand reputation these are all important reasons for SMEs to understand and engage with our sustainable future.’