On 10–11 April 2025, the consortium of the EU project ESG4SMEs met in Salerno, Italy. The project involves seven partners from Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, and Cyprus, including business initiatives, institutes, and industry associations. The project focuses on the development of a professional profile for ESG managers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural regions. The goal is to support agri-food companies in systematically integrating ESG aspects into their business practices. 

 Background 

“ESG” stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. These three pillars are used to assess the sustainability and ethical impact of a company or organization. 

Examples of measures and practices under the three ESG pillars: 

Environmental: Managing environmental impact, protecting natural resources, addressing climate change 

• Energy efficiency: Reducing energy consumption and CO₂ emissions 

• Sustainable resource use: Using renewable resources, recycling, waste reduction 

• Climate protection: Investing in renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions 

Social: Relations with employees, suppliers, customers, and communities 

• Working conditions: Fair wages, protection of workers’ rights 

• Community engagement: Educational projects, donations, volunteering 

• Diversity and inclusion: Promoting a diverse and inclusive corporate culture 

Governance: Responsible management and oversight 

• Corporate ethics: Transparency, anti-corruption, ethical standards 

• Board structure: Independent and effective supervisory boards 

• Risk management: Strategies for managing business risks 

Benefits of Implementing ESG Practices 

By integrating ESG practices, companies can improve access to financing, strengthen their market position, and gain competitive advantages. ESG implementation also builds trust with customers and partners, increases employee motivation and retention, ensures compliance with legal requirements, and enhances operational efficiency—for example, through energy savings, reduced resource consumption, and lower waste. 

Project Progress 

During the first half of the project, a baseline analysis of ESG practices was conducted in the partner countries. Based on this, the ESG manager profile and an ESG curriculum were developed. Currently, the partners are working on the development of a training course in ESG. 

The EU project ESG4SMEs aims to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Europe in integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their daily operations. From 22 to 24 July 2025, a LTTA was held at the lead partner ACEEU (Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities) in Münster. 

Meeting Focus Areas 

Launched under the EU Erasmus+ program, the project places a particular focus on the agriculture and food sector and primarily supports rural companies in implementing sustainable practices. At the core of the project is the development of an online training course for sustainability officers. In addition, an online Mission Game is being created, In a virtual business environment, users can apply ESG principles in a gamified way, navigate real-life scenarios, make decisions based on ESG data, and experience the impact of these decisions on business performance. both open accessible resources.

Exchange and Best Practices 

Representatives from Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, and Germany attended the meeting in Münster. The program included lectures, guided tours, discussion rounds, and workshops. 

Highlights of the three-day meeting: 

• Ursula Wermelt from energiland2050 e.V. presented the services offered by the Office for Climate Protection and Sustainability for businesses and citizens in the Steinfurt district. This gave the international project partners the opportunity to learn about municipal strategies and approaches to sustainable development at the local level in Germany and to exchange ideas. 

• Rike Kappler, founder and CEO of the organic bakery Cibaria, guided the European project group through the production process and provided insights into her company’s sustainable business philosophy. 

• The initiative Fairteilbar from Münster conducted a workshop on food waste, demonstrating how individuals and organizations can reduce waste while making a positive contribution to the environment and society. 

In addition, partners presented the current status of their work packages, including the development of the training modules and the collection of ESG best practices from their respective countries. From the Steinfurt district, WESt reported on the sustainability strategy of Confiserie Rabbel from Westerkappeln as a practical example of ESG implementation in rural agri-food sector companies. 

Outlook 

Once the training modules and mission game content are completed, the materials will be translated into the national languages of the partner countries and made publicly available through an online platform. 

Discover ESG4SMEs Learning Resources 🌱

Learning about ESG does not have to be dry, complicated, or overwhelming. Within the ESG4SMEs project, we have developed two practical and engaging resources that make ESG learning more accessible, interactive, and relevant for rural SMEs: the Simulation Game 🎮 and the ESGMR Training Course 🎓.

Whether you are just starting to explore ESG or looking for practical ways to bring it into your business, these tools are here to support your journey.

🎮 Simulation Game – Learn by Doing

The ESG4SMEs Simulation Game invites you into a realistic rural SME environment, where ESG is not just theory – it becomes part of your decisions.

Through interactive scenarios, you can test how different choices affect your business, your community, and the environment. From managing resources to responding to sustainability challenges, the game helps you explore ESG in action in a way that is practical, immersive, and easy to understand.

💡 It is especially useful for SMEs that have little or no previous ESG experience, as it offers a safe space to experiment, learn from mistakes, and build confidence step by step.

🎓 ESGMR Training Course – Build Your Skills at Your Own Pace

Prefer a more structured learning path? The ESGMR Training Course is designed as a self-learning programme that guides you through the key building blocks of ESG in rural SMEs.

Inside, you will find:

• practical learning modules
• quizzes to test your understanding
• case studies from real-life contexts
• useful tools to support ESG implementation in practice

The course helps you move from the basics of ESG to more advanced topics such as strategy, monitoring, and reporting – all adapted to the realities of rural businesses.

🌾 Why These Resources Matter

Rural SMEs face unique challenges, but also unique opportunities. ESG can help businesses become more resilient, more competitive, and better prepared for the future. That is why these resources were created: to make ESG learning practical, relevant, and genuinely useful.

By combining interactive learning through the game and structured knowledge through the course, ESG4SMEs offers a learning experience that is both informative and hands-on.

👉 Start Exploring

All resources are freely available on the ESG4SMEs project website, so you can start learning, clicking, testing, and discovering right away.

Because sometimes the best way to understand ESG… is to try it for yourself. 🌍✨

On 11 March 2026, more than 50 business representatives and multipliers from the Münsterland region participated in an online event to learn about practical ways to strategically embed sustainability in companies. Five regional companies shared how they integrate sustainability into their business strategies and daily operations. 

The event marked the first part of the final conference of the EU-funded project ESG4SMEs and was organized by WESt Kreis-Wirtschaftsförderung, the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU), and energieland2050 e. V.. The focus was on ESG case studies from various industries. In addition, results from the EU project ESG4SMEs were presented, including a modular ESG training course and an interactive digital learning game, designed to clearly convey ESG topics to small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas. 

Insights from ESG Practice Reports 

• Heike Schürkötter from Salvus Mineralbrunnen GmbH in Emsdetten emphasized that sustainability is deeply embedded in the company culture: “Being ecological is in our DNA.” Salvus focuses on regional supply chains, short transport routes, and diverse social engagement in the region. 

• Rike Kappler from cibaria BioVollkornBäckerei GmbH in Münster demonstrated how ecological, social, and economic actions can be integrated. The company sources most raw materials locally, works closely with agricultural partners, and regularly publishes a common good report. International responsibility is also considered, e.g., through direct cooperation with cocoa producers in Ghana to strengthen local value creation. 

• Sandra Ferentschik of B&B Verpackungstechnik GmbH in Hopsten explained that sustainability affects both the company’s location and its products. Her central message: “Sustainability is a process driven by the people in the company.” She highlighted participation in the ÖKOPROFIT project as a particularly helpful foundation. 

• Karoline Kröner from Kröner-Stärke GmbH in Ibbenbüren emphasized in an interview with Ursula Wermelt (energieland2050 e. V.) that sustainability is a core basis for business decisions. She also highlighted the societal responsibility of companies: “Our company is a microcosm – a mirror of society as a whole. Each of us can contribute in small ways to the bigger picture.” Key to success is gaining acceptance within the company and actively involving employees in change processes. 

• Jessica Hövel of wedi GmbH also stressed that sustainability encompasses many perspectives and should be integrated early into existing processes. She emphasized involving different departments, actively using networks to benefit from exchanges with others, and focusing on pragmatism over perfection, building acceptance, engaging people, transparency, and good data. 

Outlook 

The event highlighted that sustainability in companies has many facets and that there is no single path. Companies in the Münsterland region are committed in diverse ways, often beyond legal requirements. By approaching sustainability step by step and collaboratively with employees, companies can develop viable solutions. Exchanging experiences with other local businesses can provide additional valuable insights.