{"id":21743,"date":"2026-07-24T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T07:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oficinaeconomicagalicia.xunta.gal\/simple-sustainability-metrics-that-an-sme-can-start-tracking-measure-to-improve\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T13:25:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:25:51","slug":"simple-sustainability-metrics-that-an-sme-can-start-tracking-measure-to-improve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oficinaeconomicagalicia.xunta.gal\/en\/simple-sustainability-metrics-that-an-sme-can-start-tracking-measure-to-improve\/","title":{"rendered":"Simple Sustainability Metrics That an SME Can Start Tracking: Measure to Improve"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sustainability is often associated with statements of intent: broad commitments, good intentions, and well-crafted phrases in a corporate report. However, for sustainability to be more than just rhetoric, it must be supported by the same foundation as any other aspect of business management: concrete data that can be measured, compared over time, and used to inform decision-making. The good news is that getting started with measurement does not require sophisticated systems or major investments; it is enough to select a few basic indicators and review them regularly.<\/p>\n

Energy Consumption: The Most Common Starting Point<\/h3>\n

Electricity and fuel consumption are usually the first indicators that any company can begin tracking, as the information is already available through monthly utility bills. What matters is not only the absolute figures, but also how they evolve over time: comparing consumption month by month, or relating it to the level of activity (for example, energy consumed per unit produced or per hour of operation), makes it possible to identify variations that might otherwise go unnoticed. It is also useful to assess the impact of any energy-efficiency measures that have already been implemented.<\/p>\n

Water Consumption and Waste Generation<\/h3>\n

Similarly, water consumption can be monitored using utility bills, paying particular attention to unusual spikes that may indicate leaks or inefficient use. As for waste, a simple indicator is to record the approximate volume or weight of waste generated, distinguishing between what is recycled and what is not. Maintaining this record consistently over time helps assess whether waste reduction or separation measures are producing tangible results.<\/p>\n

Reused Materials and Sustainable Procurement<\/h3>\n

Another useful indicator, especially for companies that manufacture or handle physical products, is the percentage of reused or recycled materials out of the total materials used. There is no need for a sophisticated system to get started: periodically reviewing the proportion of purchased materials or supplies that come from environmentally preferable options\u2014such as suppliers with recognized certifications, recycled materials, or reduced packaging\u2014already provides a valuable basis for monitoring and identifying trends over time.<\/p>\n

Transport-Related Emissions<\/h3>\n

Transportation, both of goods and employees, is another significant source of environmental impact that can be monitored relatively easily. Keeping a record of the kilometers traveled for business-related activities\u2014deliveries, sales visits, employee travel, and similar journeys\u2014makes it possible, using standardized and publicly available calculation methods, to estimate the associated emissions and evaluate whether measures such as route optimization or changing logistics providers effectively reduce this impact.<\/p>\n

Savings Achieved Through Efficiency Measures<\/h3>\n

Finally, it is advisable to explicitly record the financial savings resulting from efficiency measures that have already been implemented, no matter how modest they may be. This indicator serves several purposes, including:<\/p>\n