[ESG Management for SMEs] Over 90% of Companies Implementing ESG Practices Plan to Continue; While Awareness Remains at 30%, Companies That Have Adopted It Find Greater Business Significance.

Forval GDX Research Institute, operated by Forval Co., Ltd. (Head office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Masanori Nakajima; hereinafter "Forval"), a next-generation management consultant group with the philosophy of "FORVAL, creating a new world with 'new common sense'," will issue "BLUE REPORT April-No. 2" on Friday, March 27, 2026. This report surveys the recognition and implementation status of ESG management among SMEs, including the degree of progress, effects, challenges, and future promotion intentions.

Purpose of This Report: "Understanding the Status, Progress, Effects, Challenges, and Future Outlook of ESG Management Initiatives in SMEs"

SMEs conduct their businesses daily while facing various management challenges such as differentiation from competitors, operational efficiency, performance recovery, securing and developing human resources, building strong organizations, and sustainable management. One method for solving these management challenges that has gained attention in recent years is ESG management. Our institute has focused on SMEs' initiatives in ESG management and conducted surveys to understand the current situation.

ESG management refers to management that considers Environment, Social, and Governance. These initiatives are expected to lead to sustainable growth through business differentiation, securing and retaining excellent human resources, and strengthening risk management through enhanced governance. However, ESG management initiatives among SMEs are still limited, as indicated in our previous survey (※) on the same topic. More than a year has passed since that survey; how have SMEs' ESG management initiatives changed? This third installment of the "SME GDX/ESG Promotion Strategy" series focuses on ESG management and reports on survey results regarding its recognition, implementation status, progress, effects, challenges, and future promotion intentions.

(※) Forval GDX Research Institute "BLUE REPORT mini 'SMEs' Response to ESG'"

https://www.forval.co.jp/consulting/pdf/bluereport_202411.pdf

●For details on this report, please refer here.

　URL：https://gdx-research.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bluereport_202604ver02.pdf

Summary

■30.8% of companies recognize ESG management

※Total of "Know and can explain to others" and "Know but not enough to explain"

・Regarding awareness of ESG management, the total of "Know and can explain to others" (5.7%) and "Know but not enough to explain" (25.1%) results in 30.8% of companies recognizing it...