The operating environment for SMEs is changing rapidly – legislation is evolving, stakeholder expectations are increasing, and the competitive advantages related to sustainability are becoming increasingly clear. However, for many small and medium-sized enterprises, sustainability efforts may still appear as a fragmented whole without a clear roadmap. In this situation, the most important step is often to pause, assess the current state, and clarify what sustainability truly means for our company. A self-assessment of sustainability work is an effective tool for this purpose.
Why Should Sustainability Work Start with a Self-Assessment?
Without a clear understanding of the current state, sustainability efforts can easily become fragmented and ad hoc. A company may already be doing many responsible things – such as saving energy, supporting employee well-being, or investing in domestic raw materials – but the bigger picture is missing. A self-assessment helps make both strengths and areas for improvement visible, providing a foundation for structured and impactful sustainability work.
A self-assessment helps make both strengths and areas for improvement visible, providing a foundation for structured and impactful sustainability work.
Käkikuun self-assessment form by Käkikuu Oy is specifically designed with the everyday realities of SMEs in mind. It does not require existing information systems, certifications, or external audits. Instead, it guides companies to reflect on various aspects of sustainability work through clear and concrete questions – from business strategy to environmental responsibility, and from stakeholder engagement to governance practices.
Values, Mission, and Megatrends – The Starting Points of Sustainability Work
Responsible business is built on a company’s core values and fundamental mission. What is the purpose of the company’s existence? How are its values reflected in daily operations and decision-making? The self-assessment tool encourages companies to pause and reflect on exactly these questions.
The form also maps out key megatrends affecting the business – such as climate change, digitalization, or the talent shortage – and assesses their impacts in the short, medium, and long term. This supports the integration of sustainability work into strategic planning.
Stakeholders and Impacts – Understanding the Sphere of Influence of Your Own Operations
One key aspect of sustainability is interaction with stakeholders. Who are the company’s most important stakeholders – employees, customers, the local community, suppliers? What are their expectations, and how does the company respond to them?
The self-assessment tool guides companies to identify the most relevant impacts, risks, and opportunities for each stakeholder group. This helps clarify which sustainability themes are most significant for the business.
The self-assessment tool guides companies to identify the most relevant impacts, risks, and opportunities for each stakeholder group.
Tight Resources – How to Get Sustainability Work Started?
In SMEs, the biggest challenge in sustainability work is not a lack of will, but limited resources. When time, money, and expertise are scarce, sustainability efforts easily get pushed aside by more urgent matters. Small businesses typically don't have dedicated sustainability officers – the responsibility often falls solely on the entrepreneur or CEO, alongside all other duties.
In this situation, clarity and simple tools become essential. Käkikuu’s self-assessment form provides a structured approach that allows sustainability work to be tackled step by step. It helps the company set concrete goals for the short, medium, and long term, define key focus areas, identify necessary actions, and determine how progress will be measured.
Environmental, Social, and Governance Responsibility – Gaining a Clearer Overall Picture
The form covers all aspects of sustainability – not just environmental issues, but also social responsibility and governance practices. This provides a comprehensive view of where the company is already strong and where there is room for improvement.
For example, in terms of environmental responsibility, the form examines energy consumption, emissions, and material circulation – while also addressing the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate risks on the company’s operations. In the area of social responsibility, it assesses factors such as employee well-being, quality of employment relationships, and diversity. Regarding governance, it looks at risk management, ethical guidelines, and practices for sustainability communication.
Sustainability Is Leadership
Sustainability work is not just about filling out reports or using trendy buzzwords. It is committed leadership that steers the business toward a more sustainable, profitable, and trustworthy direction. Every SME can do this from its own starting point – but it requires visibility, planning, and the courage to address areas that need development.
Käkikuu’s Solution for SMEs: Take Control of Sustainability Work, One Step at a Time
If starting or developing sustainability work feels challenging, Käkikuu Oy is here to help. The free self assessment form serves as a starting point – completing it opens your eyes to what is already being done and what direction is worth pursuing.
Based on the self-assessment, Käkikuu offers concrete next steps:
- A written sustainability report
- A visual, communication-ready version
- An in-depth development analysis
- Carbon footprint calculation and double materiality assessment
- A sustainability strategy and related communication materials
Concrete sustainability work that supports the company’s core business and is embedded in everyday operations builds trust and collaboration, brings clarity to daily work, and prepares the company for future requirements. Käkikuu’s self-assessment form helps move the work forward in a structured, step-by-step way – exactly in the form SMEs need: practical, time-efficient, and impactful.
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