FY2025 4th Survey on SME Management: GX Awareness Below 30%, 64.3% Have Yet to Start
A survey reveals that awareness of Green Transformation (GX) among SMEs remains below 30%, with 64.3% of companies having not yet initiated any efforts.
The Forval GDX Research Institute (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Director: Manabu Taira), which aims to transform SMEs by leveraging Green and Digital technologies, has conducted the "FY2025 4th Survey on SME Management" targeting small and medium-sized enterprises.
In April 2026, the Green Transformation Emissions Trading System (GX-ETS) will be launched. While the system primarily targets large-scale emitters, its impact is expected to reach SMEs through supply chain requirements and requests from business partners. However, this survey reveals that awareness of GX among SMEs remains insufficient, with 70.3% of companies stating they are "unaware" or "have heard of it but do not know it well," and 64.3% having taken no action. Efforts such as emissions measurement and information disclosure remain limited. This report clarifies the current state of GX awareness, implementation status, specific practices, and challenges faced by SMEs in light of these changing institutional environments.
【Survey Summary】
1. GX awareness remains low at under 30%. Low "priority and necessity" remains a barrier to entry.
The most common reason for not taking action is "having other higher-priority issues." Recognition of GX as a management challenge may be lagging behind that of DX.
2. Challenges in advancing GX include "difficulty in measuring effectiveness" and "resource shortages."
Infrastructure development beyond internal efforts is required. In addition to securing specialized personnel and budgets, building a cross-sectional cooperation system that encompasses the entire supply chain is essential.
3. Companies further along in their efforts realize greater benefits; over 80% are positive about future promotion.
66.7% of companies that have progressed to business reform stated they will "focus on and promote" it. Practice creates a virtuous cycle that increases motivation.
【Survey Overview】
・Conducted by: Forval GDX Research Institute
・Period: January 14, 2026 – February 13, 2026
・Target: SME owners nationwide
・Method: Web-based survey
・Valid responses: 1,647
When using the results of this release, please cite: [Source: Forval GDX Research Institute]
Regarding GX awareness, the most common response was "I don't know" (39.3%), followed by "I've heard of it but don't know it well" (31.0%), indicating that 70.3% of SMEs have little to no awareness. Furthermore, over 60% of respondents stated they have not taken any action, and less than 10% have reached "Step 2" or higher.
The most common reason for inaction was "having other higher-priority issues" (42.8%), followed by "not feeling the necessity" (29.3%). Unlike DX, where execution-related challenges like "don't know how to proceed" are common, GX is currently not positioned as a high-priority management issue for many SMEs.
The primary challenges in advancing GX are "difficulty in measuring results/effectiveness" (29.4%), "difficulty in securing budget/investment" (29.1%), and "lack of specialized personnel" (22.7%). Because GX involves environmental impact, it is difficult to quantify, complicating investment decisions. Furthermore, it requires cooperation across procurement, production, logistics, and the entire supply chain, making cross-departmental and inter-company collaboration essential.
Regarding future intentions, 88.5% of companies already engaged in GX expressed an intent to continue. Notably, the more advanced a company is in its GX journey, the higher its motivation to further promote these initiatives, suggesting that practical experience leads to a deeper understanding of its value.