Top stories
More news


Marketing & Media
Welcome to a new PR challenge: surviving the unmoderated internet










HR & Management
How outsourcing payroll can simplify the final leg of tax season
Anton van Heerden 1 hour









Small actions can drive real change – a flipped switch, a shorter shower, a tree planted. Yet when it comes to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, the spotlight often swings to the corporate giants, with big budgets and even bigger sustainability reports. But the truth is that real impact isn’t about size, it’s about authenticity, agility and action. And that’s where small businesses thrive.
The old belief that ESG belongs to the Fortune 500 is holding progress back. Smaller businesses are already ahead of the curve, just not buried in the buzzwords. Many are hiring inclusively based on values, sourcing ethically from local suppliers and building cultures that reflect real community needs – not for PR, but because it makes good business sense. And now, with emerging ESG platforms and AI tools levelling the playing field, small businesses no longer need deep budgets to have deep impact.
Technology is no longer a barrier to entry but a bridge to success. With AI and ESG tech, small businesses can leapfrog traditional limitations and lead with confidence.
Here are some of the ways smart tech is supporting small and medium businesses to drive ESG forward:
AI-driven ESG platforms are transforming how small businesses track and report on sustainability. By automating the collection, analysis and reporting of key metrics ( from energy use to waste output and carbon emissions) smart tech cuts the red tape and frees up teams to focus on driving impact.
AI can also help small businesses identify patterns and inefficiencies in how resources are used, unlocking practical ways to reduce waste, boost efficiency and lower their environmental impact – all while trimming costs. Whether it's smarter energy use or a more circular approach to waste, small changes powered by tech can lead to big wins.
Supply chains can be a black box, but not anymore. With AI tools like Prewave offering real-time ESG risk intelligence, small businesses can shine a light on their suppliers, manage compliance and make ethical, sustainable choices with confidence. Transparency is no longer a big business luxury, it’s a competitive advantage that enables the smaller plays to have a big impact.
AI enables hyper-personalised customer experiences that showcase a brand’s ESG values in ways that truly resonate. Internally, the same tools can align sustainability messaging with what matters to employees, deepening engagement from the inside out.
Sophisticated ESG dashboards, powered by AI, put clear insights, predictive analytics and compliance alerts in the hands of small business leaders. This not only democratizes ESG strategy but empowers SMEs to make smarter, faster impact-led decisions.
Smart tech might lay the groundwork for ESG success, but it’s internal communications that bring it to life – no matter the size of your business. To drive real impact you need more than policies, you need people. Engaged employees are the engine behind every successful ESG initiative. That’s where internal communications come in. With the right messaging, tools and tone, internal comms turn ESG from a checkbox into a cause your people can believe in, act on and be proud of.
In 2025, small to medium enterprises are disproving the myth that ESG requires corporate-scale resources to make a meaningful impact. By adopting smart tech, activating employees and leveraging internal communications to embed ESG into their culture, SMEs are not just adopting ESG principles, they’re redefining them. As regulatory pressures mount and stakeholder (employees included) expectations evolve, this agility positions SMEs not as ESG followers, but as pioneers building a more sustainable and equitable global economy from the ground up.
icandi CQ specialises in internal communications and change communication and is a full-service digital brand, communication and employee experience agency. As relevant changemakers who unlock creativity for workplaces, we help companies build high performing, purpose-driven cultures, from the inside out. Email az.oc.qcidnaci@mik or az.oc.qcidnaci@anoli for solutions that deliver measurable results.