SMEs and sustainability

ESG survey

Key findings

Access the full survey

Export Development Canada’s second SMEs and Sustainability survey—conducted in 2023—captures the perspectives of more than 350 small- and medium-sized exporters. It aims to uncover: how different SMEs perceive environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices; the level of integration of ESG into a company’s business; and how ESG practices are being applied in those businesses.

3 Key findings

1. SME adoption of ESG.

Export-oriented SME’s are increasingly recognizing the value of ESG and are integrating and operationalizing sustainable practices in their business. There’s a notable 13-percentage-point increase over 2022 in the number of businesses that say ESG is a core consideration in decision-making.

Pie chart showing 38% view ESG issues as a core component of decision making, 32% consider ESG issues and impacts decision making, 16% consider ESG issues but does not impact decision-making, and 14% do not actively discuss ESG issues.

*Participants whose organizations don’t actively discuss ESG were screened out of the remainder of the survey and aren’t represented beyond this point in the report.

2. A growing number of SMEs are taking action.

SME’s are implementing ESG practices via policy, goals and/or objectives or assigning ESG responsibility to an individual or team.

have specific ESG policies, goals, and/or objectives
(10-percentage-point increase over 2022).

have an individual or team responsible for ESG
(9-percentage-point increase over 2022).

3. Commitment to ESG has accelerated despite the current economic uncertainties.

Image showing agreement ranging from 36% to 64% that commitment to ESG has accelerated despite current conditions broken out by management level, years in business and publicly traded vs privately held companies.

Learn more about ESG at EDC here.

Access the full EDC survey on SMEs and sustainabilityUnlimited one-click access through your MyEDC Account

Once accessed, this resource will be available on your MyEDC dashboard.

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Date modified: 2023-09-07

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ESG survey: The SME perspective on sustainability

3 Key findings

1. SME adoption of ESG.

2. A growing number of SMEs are taking action.

have specific ESG policies, goals, and/or objectives
(10-percentage-point increase over 2022).

have an individual or team responsible for ESG
(9-percentage-point increase over 2022).

3. Commitment to ESG has accelerated despite the current economic uncertainties.

Access the full EDC survey on SMEs and sustainabilityUnlimited one-click access through your MyEDC Account

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about your company

Tell us a bit more about your company

And lastly

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about your company

Tell us a bit more about your company

Don’t have a MyEDC account yet?

3 Key findings

1. SME adoption of ESG.

2. A growing number of SMEs are taking action.

have specific ESG policies, goals, and/or objectives (10-percentage-point increase over 2022).

have an individual or team responsible for ESG (9-percentage-point increase over 2022).

3. Commitment to ESG has accelerated despite the current economic uncertainties.

Access the full EDC survey on SMEs and sustainabilityUnlimited one-click access through your MyEDC Account

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about your company

Tell us a bit more about your company

And lastly

Tell us about yourself

Tell us about your company

Tell us a bit more about your company

Don’t have a MyEDC account yet?

have specific ESG policies, goals, and/or objectives
(10-percentage-point increase over 2022).

have an individual or team responsible for ESG
(9-percentage-point increase over 2022).