可持续发展与增长：中小企业和中型制造商的路线图

DisclaimerThis document is published by theWorld Economic Forum as a contributionto a project, insight area or interaction.The findings, interpretations andconclusions expressed herein are a resultof a collaborative process facilitated andendorsed by the World Economic Forumbut whose results do not necessarilyrepresent the views of the World EconomicForum, nor the entirety of its Members,Partners or other stakeholders.©2025 World Economic Forum. All rightsreserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced or transmitted in any formor by any means, including photocopyingand recording, or by any informationstorage and retrieval system.ContentsForewordExecutive summaryIntroduction1 Boosting economic and environmental impact: Sustainability as abusiness enabler1.1 Reducing costs and emissions through operational efficiency1.2 Strengthening talent attraction and retention1.3 Unlocking new business models and revenue2 Manufacturing SMEs and mid-sized companies’ perspectives onenvironmental sustainability3 An actionable sustainability roadmap for SMEs and mid-sizedmanufacturers4 Supporting SMEs and mid-sized manufacturers to advance theirenvironmental sustainability goalsConclusionAppendixContributorsEndnotes 34577789111722232426Sustainability Meets Growth:A Roadmap for SMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturers ForewordEnvironmental sustainability has become acornerstone of the global agenda, and the needfor collective action has never been more urgent,as the opportunity to cap global warming at 1.5°Cabove pre-industrial levels is rapidly escaping.Governments and industry both play a crucial role inthis transition, whether through policy or corporatesustainability efforts aimed at reducing carbonfootprints. In parallel, rising geopolitical tensions andgrowing supply chain complexity highlight the urgentneed to support and empower smaller businesses,whose resilience and adaptability are essential toeconomic growth and societal well-being.Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) andmid-sized companies1risk being left behind in thiscritical transition, not because they lack potential tobenefit from it but because the current sustainabilityagenda often overlooks their unique realities.Unlike large corporations, SMEs and mid-sizedmanufacturers face distinct challenges: tighter cashflow that makes upfront investments daunting, lessbargaining power to influence green procurementthroughout supply chains and limited capacityto navigate complex reporting frameworks. Yetexcluding these businesses from the sustainabilitytransformation is not only inequitable but alsoeconomically and environmentally unsustainablegiven that they represent 90% of all businesses andaccount for nearly 70% of global jobs2and 40% ofindustrial pollution across OECD countries.Kiva AllgoodManaging Director,World Economic ForumSustainability Meets Growth:A Roadmap for SMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturers 3 This raises a critical question: what are the mosteffective levers that SMEs and mid-sized companiescan adopt to accelerate change? As humanitystrives to address climate change, it is time to rethinktraditional approaches and explore innovative,scalable solutions as well as collective actions in thepublic and the private sectors and for companies ofall sizes to deliver a positive environmental impactwhile promoting economic growth.Although SMEs and mid-sized companies facedistinct challenges, they also possess the agilityand potential to drive meaningful change whenequipped with the right tools and support. Byaligning sustainability with business strategy – notas a cost but as a competitive advantage – theycan contribute significantly to global climate goalswhile securing long-term economic growth.It is time to mobilize collective action in the publicand private sectors to equip companies of allsizes in the manufacturing ecosystem with theknowledge, resources and roadmaps needed tothrive in a rapidly evolving world, ensuring thatno one is left behind in the transition to a moreEsther FinidoriChief Sustainability Officer,Schneider Electric sustainable future.3 Executive summarySmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) andmid-sized companies form the backbone of theglobal economy, accounting for approximately 70%of employment and 90% of businesses worldwide.4However, despite their collective impact, they oftenface unique challenges in adopting sustainabilitypractices, ranging from limited resources to a lackof knowledge and expertise. This has resultedin a slower integration of sustainability practicesamong SMEs and mid-sized companies in themanufacturing and supply chain ecosystemcompared to large multinational corporations(MNCs), which have started to embrace the benefitsand potential of sustainability in areas such aslow-carbon product innovation, circular supplychain models, green procurement and enhancedsustainability reporting to meet investor andregulatory expectations.Sustainability Meets Growth: A Roadmap forSMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturerschalle