From a Blank Page to a Sustainability Report: A Practical Workshop with AI Support

Date: 3 December
Time: 9:30 to 13:00
Location: Terrassa Chamber of Commerce

The growing demand for sustainability information from customers, financial institutions, public authorities and other stakeholders makes it necessary for companies to prepare rigorous reports tailored to their circumstances. In this context, EFRAG’s voluntary European VSME standard (future VS) provides a specific framework for SMEs to communicate their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. This practical workshop offers the knowledge, criteria and resources needed to begin preparing a sustainability report in accordance with the VSME standard. During the session, participants will work through the standard’s content, see real examples and be introduced to using artificial intelligence (AI) to structure content, draft narratives, systematize data and improve the efficiency of the process. At the end, each participant will receive a practical guide to begin drafting their own VSME report.

Course information

Objectives

The workshop aims to provide practical knowledge for preparing a sustainability report in accordance with the voluntary European standard currently known as VSME (future VS). By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Understand the scope, structure and requirements of VSME (basic module and comprehensive module).
Identify what information, data and policies their company must collect to address each section of the standard.
Structure and draft the report’s various sections with the support of a practical guide.
Incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) as a support tool to accelerate drafting, systematize data and improve the report’s quality.
Take away a preparation guide that will enable them to begin working on the report within their company.

Target audience

This workshop is intended for people with direct or indirect responsibility for their company’s sustainability and non-financial reporting: executives, managers and specialists in sustainability, the environment, quality, CSR or ESG, and management personnel involved in corporate reporting who need to convey sustainability information to customers, financial institutions, public authorities and other stakeholders.

Syllabus

Contextualization of VS/VSME: who, why, when and where.
European regulatory framework (CSRD, ESRS) and how the voluntary standard fits within it.
Basic module and comprehensive module.
Module content (data points).
Use of AI to support preparation: narrative drafting, data synthesis, consistency review and improvement of report quality. Good practices and limitations.

Methodology

A theoretical and practical workshop session. Explanations from the instructors about the VSME standard will be combined with exercises directly applying it to the circumstances of each participating company. Practical demonstrations will show how artificial intelligence can be used as a support tool in preparing the report, including narrative drafting, data synthesis and consistency review.

Speakers

Marianella Pereira, Head of Sustainable Business Development, Terrassa Chamber of Commerce
Glòria Monterrubio, Sustainability Project Coordinator, Terrassa Chamber of Commerce
Genís Cortada, Sustainability Specialist, Terrassa Chamber of Commerce