Sebrae and ABNT launch initiative to certify micro and small businesses in ESG.

247 - Sebrae and the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) signed a protocol of intentions this Wednesday (22) with the aim of preparing 10 micro and small enterprises (MSEs), including individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs), to obtain certification in the ESG (Environmental, Sustainability and Governance) standard. The project aims to highlight Brazilian small businesses as examples of good practices at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 30, which will be held in Belém (PA).

“We cannot talk about ESG, sustainability, good governance practices and inclusion if small businesses are not deeply involved in this process. They represent 95% of the companies in our country,” highlighted Margarete Coelho, Director of Administration and Finance at Sebrae Nacional, during the event.

The president of ABNT, William Esper, emphasized the unprecedented scope of the initiative. “Brazil is the only country that has an ESG standard, so much so that it is serving as a base text for the international development of the ISO standard, which brings together 180 countries. Nowhere else in the world is there a certification project for micro and small enterprises of this magnitude,” he stated. He also highlighted the benefits of certification for SMEs, such as greater competitiveness and a better market reputation.

Transforming the reality of SMEs

Implementing an ESG culture in micro and small businesses aligns with Sebrae's sustainability strategies. In 2023, the institution created the ESG Committee, which aims to reinforce the adoption of sustainable practices within and outside the organization.

Georgia Nunes, president of the ESG Committee and manager of Entrepreneurship, Diversity and Inclusion at Sebrae Nacional, highlighted the transformative impact of the initiative. “This is a project that embraces the entire Sebrae through the various units represented on the Committee. It is the realization of a dream that changes not only the reality of Sebrae, but also the universe of micro and small enterprises. We are going to COP 30, we are going to make a difference and transform reality,” she emphasized.

Platform for certification

As part of the project, Sebrae will soon launch a digital platform to guide small business owners through the ESG certification process. Through this tool, business owners will be able to demonstrate activities aligned with the sustainable practices established by the ABNT standard and track their progress towards certification.

Diego Almeida, an Information Technology analyst at Sebrae Nacional, explained that the system will be customized to meet the specific needs of each business segment. "Each segment will be guided, according to its particularities, to obtain the certification endorsed by ABNT," he stated. The system will also allow small businesses to assess the impact of ESG investments on their companies, in addition to helping increase sales capacity and business growth.