Is VSME mandatory for North American businesses?

No. VSME is voluntary for non-listed SMEs. However, if your European customers are required to report under CSRD, they may request that you respond in VSME format as part of their value chain disclosure. Completing a VSME response allows you to meet those requests consistently, without creating a new process for every customer.

What is the difference between CSRD and VSME?

CSRD is the EU reporting directive that applies to large companies — after the Omnibus I Directive, those with more than 1,000 employees and €450 million in turnover. VSME is the voluntary standard designed to help smaller companies in European supply chains respond to data requests from CSRD-scoped companies. Your North American business likely doesn't fall under CSRD directly, but your European customers do, and they need your data to comply with their own CSRD reporting requirements.

How long does it take to complete a VSME submission?

For a first-time submission, most companies should budget 40 to 80 hours of internal time. That range assumes you'll need to gather and organize data that isn't yet in a central system. The second year is significantly faster because most data carries forward and your reporting infrastructure is already in place.

What data do I need to start a VSME submission?

The largest piece is your carbon footprint: energy use, Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and Scope 3 where material. Beyond that, you'll need environmental data (water, waste), HR data (headcount, gender, turnover, pay, training, health and safety), and short narrative descriptions of your policies and governance practices. A sustainability reporting platform can automate a meaningful portion of the data collection.

Does VSME include Scope 3 emissions?

Yes. The VSME Comprehensive Module includes Scope 3 emissions where material. For most North American suppliers, that means accounting for indirect emissions across your value chain — upstream purchases and downstream distribution at minimum. If you're already using carbon accounting software to track your footprint, much of this data may already be available.

Can the same data be used for CDP, EcoVadis, and VSME?

In most cases, yes. Preparing a VSME submission creates a data foundation that maps to CDP Supply Chain questionnaires and EcoVadis assessments with relatively little additional work. The frameworks differ in structure, but the underlying data — emissions, energy, water, waste, workforce metrics — overlaps substantially across all three.

We're a small company with no sustainability team. Can we still complete a VSME response?

Yes. VSME was designed with smaller companies in mind. The Basic Module is manageable for most businesses with existing financial and operations records. The Comprehensive Module requires more work but is achievable with the right tools and, where needed, outside support from an accountant or sustainability reporting software platform.

Supplier Requirements Archives

CSRD reporting requirements: a VSME guide for North American suppliers
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CSRD reporting requirements: a VSME guide for North American suppliers

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CSRD reporting requirements: a VSME guide for North American suppliers
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Greenplaces speaking at National Supply Chain Day | April 29
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Greenplaces speaking at National Supply Chain Day | April 29

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Greenplaces speaking at National Supply Chain Day | April 29
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How manufacturers can engage suppliers on ESG
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How manufacturers can engage suppliers on ESG

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Solving the Scope 3 challenge in manufacturing
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Procurement and sustainability: Lessons from AstraZeneca
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Procurement and sustainability: Lessons from AstraZeneca
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Webinar: How supplier sustainability shapes Fortune 500

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Navigating Microsoft’s sustainability requirements

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Webinar: Sustainability in action—strategies from Olo and qb.
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Webinar: Sustainability in action—strategies from Olo and qb.

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Webinar: Sustainability in action—strategies from Olo and qb.
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Microsoft’s sustainable supplier requirements
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Microsoft’s sustainable supplier requirements

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Supplier Requirements

CSRD reporting requirements: a VSME guide for North American suppliers

Greenplaces speaking at National Supply Chain Day | April 29

How manufacturers can engage suppliers on ESG

Solving the Scope 3 challenge in manufacturing

Procurement and sustainability: Lessons from AstraZeneca

Webinar: How supplier sustainability shapes Fortune 500

Navigating Microsoft’s sustainability requirements

Webinar: Sustainability in action—strategies from Olo and qb.

Microsoft’s sustainable supplier requirements