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99% of Swiss enterprises are SMEs. Let's support their transition to sustainability. Yes to legislative change!

To the Swiss Federal Assembly,

We, the undersigned Swiss citizens, call with one voice for our institutions to pave the way for a future where economic competitiveness and sustainability go hand in hand. We propose the creation of a voluntary legal status, specifically designed to recognize and support the sustainability efforts of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Switzerland.

Background:

In Switzerland, SMEs, which account for 99.7% of all businesses and employ two-thirds of the private sector workforce, are the backbone of the economy. They embody innovation, flexibility, and resilience, generating 60% of the GDP. However, despite their economic importance, these businesses often face major challenges in adopting sustainable practices, due in part to limited resources and restricted access to expertise. Additionally, small and medium-sized enterprises often do not receive enough attention in legislation and policy. 

By adopting a voluntary legal status, Switzerland could provide a supportive framework that encourages and facilitates sustainability efforts within these SMEs. This status would provide them with the necessary tools and incentives to ease the burden of implementing sustainable practices and to foster a culture of sustainability. It is crucial to support SMEs so that they can become key players in change. Our goal is to act for and not against businesses to accelerate the transition to sustainability, in accordance with the commitments outlined in our constitution (art. 2).

Proposal:

The legal status of "sustainable enterprise" for SMEs would recognize and support small and medium-sized businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through:

Environmental management: Effective measures to reduce environmental impact, including energy efficiency, sustainable sourcing, and waste reduction.

Social responsibility: Commitment to fair employment practices, community engagement, and social equity.

Corporate governance: Transparency, ethical business conduct, and accountability in operations.

This initiative aims to create fair conditions, allowing SMEs to become more competitive nationally and globally. It thus meets the growing market access demands and anticipates future needs, contributing to a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable future.

Among our supporters are:

Aline Trede (Fédération Suisse des Entreprises), André Hoffmann (Roche), Veronica Almedom (Eidgenössische Migrationskommission), Raphaëlle Archambeaud (L’Occitane), Kathrin Amacker (Fairtrade Max Havelaar), Nicole Bardet (Alternative Bank Switzerland), Christophe Barman (Fédération Suisse des Entreprises), Thomas Berndt (Université de St. Gallen), Alexandre de Boccard (OA Legal), Sébastien Aeschbach (Aeschbach), Dominique De Buman (Swiss Leaders), Vincent Pfammater (Université de Genève), Miles Hopwood (Groupe Integraal), Jean-Pierre Danthine (E4S), Aurelien G. Demaurex (Grand Conseil Vaud), Joseph Dittli (Conseil des Etats), Jean-Marc Fillistorf (Tipee), Alexandre Fricker (Opaline), Nicolas Freudiger (ID Genève Watches), Virginie Galland (NAEF Immobilier), Bertrand Girod (Groupe Serbeco), Alexia Michiels (Resilience Institute), Sara Gnoni (The Positive Project), Gwen Jettain (Pelt8), Melanie Gajowski (36x36 Association), Valérie Notter (Swiss Design Association), Josephine Herzig (Expedition Zukunft), Melissa Kiehl (ICRC), Monika Keller (ECOnGOOD Switzerland), Giovanni Facchinetti (Positiive Organizations), Jenny Kunz (Ricola), Olivier Ferrari (CONINCO Explorers), Sophie Michaud-Gigon (Conseil National), Hanns Christian Mahler (ten23 health), Peter Messerli (Université de Berne), Oliver Meier (FAHAMU), Michael Mosimann (Eversheds Sutherland), Giulia Neri-Castracane (Université de Genève), Pamela Ravasio (Shirahime), Jacqueline Scheuner (UMEO), Jonathan Normand (Fondation B Lab Switzerland), Henry Peter (Université de Genève), Christian Petit (Romande Energie), Laura Perret (VALPEO), Alexis Richard (Biscuits Agathe), Olmar Albers (öbu), Claire-Lise Rimaz (Swiss Leaders), Lisa Rubli-Noetzli (EQUAL-SALARY), Patrick Schmutz (ED Energie Durable), Jürg Stäubli (Swiss Fair Trade), Patrick Semadeni (Semadeni Plastics Group), Leila Asloun de Vries (Prop), Govinda Upadhyay (SmartHelio), Lionel Zingaro (Inovacomm), Johann Boschung (Naturalpes). 

The arguments of our supporters:

Validity of the legal status model: We propose the introduction of a new legal status inspired by successful models from the United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg. This aims to strengthen economic ethics and position Switzerland as a leader in a sustainable economy.

A tool for SMEs: The proposed legal status would allow for more effective management of environmental and governance standards, which are often inconsistent and based on self-assessment. It would facilitate, among other things, access to financial resources, enhance consumer perception, simplify entry into new markets, expand networking opportunities, improve business relationships and employee retention. 

Voluntary promotion of corporate responsibility: The introduction of this legal status would strengthen the accountability of participating businesses throughout the value chains and encourage a culture of sustainable business through clear guidelines and appropriate support. Such a legal status is crucial for seamlessly integrating SMEs into a responsible and sustainable economy, as the free market alone is insufficient to achieve these goals.

Call to Action:

The time to act is now. By supporting the creation of a voluntary legal status of "Sustainable Enterprise" for SMEs, the Swiss Federal Assembly can provide SMEs with the long-awaited support to address climate change, environmental protection, and social justice. This initiative will not only protect our environment and society but will also enhance the resilience and competitiveness of Swiss SMEs in the long term.

We call on our parliamentarians to seize this opportunity to support Swiss SMEs in their transition to sustainable business models. Let Switzerland set an example by demonstrating that small and medium-sized enterprises can thrive economically while operating sustainably and responsibly.

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