Most Singapore SMEs Haven't Started Their Sustainability Journey

If you run an SME and sustainability feels overwhelming, you aren't alone.

Gprnt and PwC Singapore launched the inaugural SME Sustainability Barometer, a study that looked at the sustainability readiness of Singapore's small and medium enterprises, with support from the Singapore Business Federation and the Sustainability Alliance. It surveyed nearly 600 SMEs across 19 sectors.

What did it find?

Three in four SMEs had not yet started their sustainability journey. The top reasons were money, skills, and time. More than half said sustainability was hard to justify given tight margins and more pressing priorities. Four in five businesses had little to no clarity on what returns their green investments would actually deliver, and three in four admitted they simply didn't have the technical knowledge to translate good intentions into a concrete plan.

Here is the part that really stands out. Over 70 percent of SMEs had not accessed any form of government support, even though various schemes are already available. The support is there. Many businesses just do not know about it, or do not think it applies to them.

Because here's what the same research also revealed: SMEs that have moved further along their sustainability journey are genuinely reaping the rewards. We're talking higher customer engagement, real cost savings through energy efficiency, and doors opening to entirely new markets. The contrast is stark: only 1 in 10 businesses at the early stage saw measurable gains, compared with nearly half of those that had progressed further.

The Barometer concludes that with clearer guidance, market incentives, and stronger data transparency, sustainability can become a genuine driver of long-term growth, not just a compliance burden.

The first step is always the hardest. But the evidence is clear: starting is worth it.

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Read the full article here.