Guide
ESG for small businesses
ESG is an assessment of the company: environment, people and governance. It is not the same as LCA or EPD. LCAB mainly gathers the E part. LCAB is not an ESG auditor.
ESG is a company assessment. Not a product LCA.
E is environment: CO2, materials, waste and climate impact. S is people: working conditions and the supply chain. G is governance: documentation, controls and risk.
ESG is not a law. CSRD is the law for large companies. VSME is the voluntary SME framework. Customers still ask: can you prove it?
What you can gather in LCAB
LCAB mainly covers E: product data, materials, suppliers, LCA, carbon footprint, documents and product passport. In the ESG wizard you can also note what you know about S and G.
What you get is structure and internal documentation. A place to answer when the customer asks.
- Product data, materials and suppliers
- LCA and CO2 you can explain
- Documents linked to the product
- LCAB ESG or VSME Basic as an internal pack, not as an audited report
What needs an auditor or adviser
A full ESG report, CSRD/ESRS, VSME assurance and double materiality sit outside LCAB. LCAB does not certify you and does not approve your annual report.
- An audited ESG or CSRD statement
- A VSME report that an auditor must sign
- Legal assessment of whether the law applies to you directly
How to do it
01
Separate the two: ESG is the company. LCA and EPD are the product. Start with what the customer actually asks.
02
Gather the E part in LCAB: materials, suppliers, CO2 and documents you can stand behind.
03
Fill the ESG wizard with what you know about people and governance. Do not guess. Mark the gaps.
04
Generate LCAB ESG or VSME Basic as internal documentation you can share with the customer.
05
If the customer requires verified ESG, CSRD or VSME assurance: hand the pack to an auditor or adviser.
06
Say honestly what you have, and what still needs external review.
Common questions
Can LCAB produce verified ESG?
No. LCAB is not an ESG auditor and does not issue an auditor-approved report. You can gather data and form an internal document. Verification, CSRD and VSME assurance sit with an auditor or adviser.
Is ESG the same as LCA?
No. LCA looks at a product life cycle. ESG assesses the company: environment, social topics and governance. Product LCA can support the E part. It does not replace an ESG report.
Does a small company need an ESG department?
No. Most SMEs need a place to gather documentation and language customers understand. LCAB is built for that. An auditor comes when the requirement is there.
What can we show the customer tomorrow?
Product data, CO2 you can explain, and an overview of what is missing. Not a stamp that you are ESG approved.
Want documentation in one place?
LCAB is a guided platform for companies without an ESG team. Start with the data you already have.