Hands-on guidance for SMEs on sustainability reporting - join our workshops!

Sustainable SMEs is ready to support SMEs across Finland, Sweden and Ireland on their sustainability reporting journey. From spring 2026 until spring 2027, the project will organize workshops on five different topics, aiming to test and provide tools for more efficient sustainability reporting. Especially SMEs in bioeconomy and manufacturing are warmly welcome to join!

The first workshop concept explores the basics of data analytics – how to handle, analyze and interpret sustainability data in order to fulfill reporting requirements and make informed, strategic decisions based on the data. Participants get to test different data analytics tools with the guidance of a specialist to get a more comprehensive experience. The findings of the workshops are used to develop a data analytics training material, available for SMEs to use independently in the whole NPA area and beyond. The first workshop was held in Ireland on 14 May 2026, and another took place in Jyväskylä, Finland, on 22 September 2026.

Since artificial intelligence (AI) is a very pressing topic in today’s world, the second concept focuses on the use of AI in sustainability reporting. The workshop covers the basics of generative artificial intelligence, its potential and limitations, effective prompting, and how to mitigate risks. Different AI tools are tested for prompting and analyzing the response. Based on the feedback of the workshop, the project develops an extensive AI handbook as well as easy to use, quick-glance guides adapted to local contexts in Finland, Sweden and Ireland. The first workshop took place in Finland on 9 September 2026, and others follow on 7 October 2026 (online, in Finnish), 11 November in Sweden or online in Swedish, and before the end of 2026 in Ireland.

A less technical workshop concept touches on carbon footprint calculation. Participants learn what carbon footprint calculation means, why it is important, and how to recognize the most important emissions in their own organization. They also get to try how carbon footprint calculation works with different tools. The workshop series starts on 16 November in Finland, followed by 16 February 2027 online in Finnish and 18 February in Sweden or online in Swedish.

More inclined towards strategic thinking, the Make, buy or outsource workshop concept supports SMEs in deciding whether to make, buy, or outsource a sustainability reporting system. These workshops take place in Sweden (preliminary date 18 March) and Ireland in spring 2027.

Finally, the last workshop concept explores the sustainability reporting tools and systems currently available. Participants hear about the basics of choosing a suitable sustainability reporting tool, and get to test some of the market-available systems. The final workshops will be held in Sweden (preliminary date 15 April) and Ireland in spring 2027.

Follow the project’s website as well as our regional websites for Finland, Sweden and Ireland to keep track of the coming workshops and make sure you don’t miss these opportunities! More information of the workshops will be listed below under "Related workshops". Welcome to join!