Small businesses strengthen their commitment to sustainability, research shows.

247 - Practices such as selective waste collection, recycling, and the conscious use of water and energy are increasingly present in the daily lives of small Brazilian entrepreneurs. According to research published by Sebrae93% of micro and small business owners consider socio-environmental sustainability actions important or very important for their businesses.

According to the survey, the vast majority of entrepreneurs (83%) believe that commitment to the environment should not be the sole responsibility of large corporations. The study also shows that... individual microentrepreneurs (MEI) Those who value the topic the most are: 41% consider it "very important" and 51% "important". Among the sectors, the one of Services It is the one that most recognizes the importance of sustainability (94%).

According to the president of Sebrae, Decio LimaThe results reinforce the need to involve small businesses in discussions about sustainability, especially in the context leading up to [the event/event]. COP30, United Nations Conference on Climate Change, which will be held in Belém (PA) in 2025.

 “Sustainability is a concept that is irreversible. Sebrae focuses on promoting development that is both sustainable and innovative,” highlighted Décio Lima. “To achieve this goal, we work to strengthen sustainable entrepreneurship, showing that development can happen without threatening our natural resources and biodiversity.”

The survey also shows that 66% of respondents They see the positive impact on social and environmental issues as the main benefit of the practices. ESG (acronym in English for environmental, social and corporate governance).

challenges and obstacles

Despite the positive perception, entrepreneurs still face barriers to implementing sustainable practices. lack of information The main obstacle mentioned (27%) is the number of people who say they have little knowledge (20%) and those who say they don't know where to start (7%). Next comes... lack of financial resources, mentioned by 21% of respondents.

These data reinforce the need for technical and educational support, as well as financial incentives, so that companies can invest in sustainable solutions without compromising their economic viability.

COP30 sparks expectations

The proximity of COP30 It also influenced the respondents' answers: 71% of the small business owners stated that they considered the event important or very important for their activities. The degree of relevance increases among individual micro-entrepreneurs (72%) and is even more significant among women (76%), compared to 67% of men.

For the participants, the conference should serve as an opportunity to Connecting small businesses to the green marketplace., expand access to credit lines for sustainable practices and strengthen the dissemination of ESG best practices.

The role of Sebrae

The research also shows that entrepreneurs attribute a fundamental role to Sebrae in promoting sustainability during and after COP30. Among the most valued actions are:

•  Connecting small businesses to the green market – 94% consider it important or very important;
•  Promote sustainable credit lines and incentives. – 91% highlight it as a priority;
•  Disseminating good ESG practices 90% consider it essential.

These priorities reveal the desire of entrepreneurs to actively participate in the transition to a greener and more inclusive economy.

Exclusive

The Sebrae survey was conducted between August 9 and September 16, 2025and heard 6.266 small business owners – among individual micro-entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises and small businesses – from all states of the Federation.