Why ESG reporting is exhausting companies—especially SMEs.
The Growing Burden
Companies today face a data deluge in ESG reporting.
But instead of clarity, it’s leading to compliance fatigue.
Trapped in a Web of Frameworks
ESG isn’t one-size-fits-all.
Most companies must deal with multiple standards:
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GRI (Global Reporting Initiative)
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SASB (Sustainability Accounting Standards Board)
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TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures)
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And more: CDP, CSRD, ISSB…
Each comes with its own requirements, formats, and language.
Data Collection Is Draining
ESG data collection is time-consuming and resource-heavy.
Teams juggle:
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Surveys
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Interviews
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Emissions data
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Financial risk models
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Third-party audits
…often with little immediate payoff.
Is It Worth the Effort?
Despite the time and cost, many companies feel the benefits are unclear:
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No unified ROI
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Minimal investor feedback
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Frameworks keep evolving
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Staff are overwhelmed
SMEs Suffer Most
For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the impact is worse:
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No ESG team
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No specialized tools
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No budget for consultants
ESG becomes a barrier to growth, not an enabler.
We Need a Better Way
To overcome this fatigue, we must:
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Harmonize standards – Align global ESG frameworks
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Tailor for SMEs – Simplify requirements
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Automate collection – Use tech and AI tools
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Build ESG capacity – Train internal teams
Shift from Burden to Value
Let’s make ESG meaningful again.
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Clearer.
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Smarter.
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Scalable.
It’s time to shift from compliance overload to impact-driven reporting.
CTA / Final Thought
Are you seeing compliance fatigue in your ESG journey?
Let’s connect and explore how to streamline it—especially for SMEs.
