SME EnterPRIZE: Generali supports sustainable SMEs for a resilient and competitive Europe

Generali hosted the closing event of the fourth edition of SME EnterPRIZE, the Group’s flagship initiative to promote sustainability among European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and support them in integrating sustainable practices in their businesses. It was also an opportunity to celebrate the 10 “Sustainability Heroes” selected from over 8,900 SMEs across Europe and to unveil the new edition of the White Paper developed in collaboration with SDA Bocconi – School of Management Sustainability Lab.

The event was also recognised with the Patronage of the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union and saw the attendance of Martin Hojsík, Vice-President of the European Parliament, as well as academic leaders and Generali’s senior leadership. Furthermore, the 2025 edition hosted speeches from Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, from Raffaele Fitto, Vice-President of the EU Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, and from Marcos Neto – Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau of Policy and Programme Support.

Philippe Donnet, Generali Group CEO, said: “It has been four years since Generali launched SME EnterPRIZE, and amid global financial fluctuation, geopolitical tensions, and rapid technological change, small and medium-sized enterprises continue to face significant daily challenges. Against this backdrop, we remained convinced of the benefits that the sustainable transition can offer to all these companies, and we maintain the greatest commitment to accompanying and supporting them on this journey. Moreover, one of the key goals of SME EnterPRIZE has always been to foster the debate with Europe’s policymakers and financial services professionals to ultimately build a regulatory framework that truly allows SMEs to embrace sustainability. This complex process will require time, but we see good alignment also with the priorities of the European Commission, and so I am confident that together we will advance towards a more competitive, resilient, and sustainable Europe.”

Generali Group General Manager, Marco Sesana said: “Our SME EnterPRIZE initiative underscores the importance of integrating sustainability considerations into the business activities of European small and medium-sized companies. The fourth White Paper by Generali and SDA Bocconi places a special focus on the need to foster the climate resilience of SMEs, and the timing could not be more pertinent as extreme weather events continue to increase in frequency and magnitude. At Generali we remain fully committed to supporting the just sustainable transition and doing our part to make this a reality with targeted support through financing, investments, as well as tailored advice and insurance solutions.”

A roadmap to foster the just sustainable transition of European SMEs

This year’s edition of the White Paper, based on discussions with 1,260 SMEs from across Europe, demonstrates the resilience of European SMEs in their sustainable transition journeys while highlighting areas that require targeted support.

The research reveals a consolidation in ESG adoption and underlines the benefits of adopting sustainable business practices. A special section is dedicated to climate resilience, which highlights that climate risk awareness varies significantly across the SME landscape.

The White Paper also calls for policymakers and financial institutions to engage with and empower European SMEs to accelerate their just sustainable transition.

Francesco Perrini, Associate Dean for Sustainability at SDA Bocconi School of Management, said: “Our analysis of 1,260 European SMEs reveals remarkable resilience in their green transition, with sustainability adoption rates holding steady at 44% despite growing implementation challenges. What emerges with particular clarity is the evolution of the sustainability business case, where financial benefits are increasingly complementing well-established environmental and social advantages. Companies that have adopted sustainable practices are experiencing significant improvements in credit conditions (+8%) and insurance terms (+10%), signalling growing market recognition of sustainability value. However, significant barriers persist that require targeted interventions, particularly for smaller SMEs that show lower adoption rates compared to medium-sized enterprises. Our study highlights the urgent need for proportionate and differentiated support mechanisms that can effectively address the diverse needs of the European SME ecosystem.”

The full White Paper, which includes deep dives on each country taking part in Generali’s SME EnterPRIZE initiative, can be downloaded here.

Celebrating the Sustainability Heroes

Generali’s fourth SME EnterPRIZE event in Brussels celebrated the 10 “Sustainability Heroes”, selected from over 8,900 SMEs across Europe as true leaders in developing sustainable business models and coming from the European countries that have joined the initiative: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain.

• K. Energie Haus (Austria), which excels in the planning, production, and assembly of energy-efficient timber buildings such as houses, schools, and medical centres.
• Hrvatski Kišobran (Croatia), an umbrella manufacturer with a strong commitment to inclusion and social responsibility that actively integrates people with disabilities into their workforce.
• Ameba Production (Czech Republic), which organizes an annual festival with awareness-raising initiatives to educate visitors about the importance of environmental and social sustainability.
• CréaWatt (France), a producer of ultra-light solar panels that can be adapted to various roofs without the need for structural reinforcement. In addition to organising training and awareness-raising initiatives on renewable energy, they also support the professional reintegration and employment of detainees.
• vomFASS (Germany), an online and physical shop whose refill initiative allows customers to buy vinegars, oils, spirits, and wines selecting the quantity and container for their purchases, while also committing to CO₂-neutral production processes and to preserving biodiversity.
• Compocity (Hungary), a pioneer in the urban circular economy which has developed an indoor community composting robot, CompoBot, to transform waste into soil-regenerating material.
• Fedabo (Italy), a consulting B Corp dedicated to enhancing the energy, economic, and environmental performance of both private and public companies.
• EcoXperience (Portugal), which has developed innovative cleaning solutions by transforming used cooking oil into environmentally friendly detergents.
• Pribinovina-Korenika (Slovenia), a social farm blending organic production, rural development, and social inclusion, providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other vulnerable social groups through sheltered employment.
• Adopta un Abuelo (Spain), a social enterprise offering corporate volunteering programmes to companies, connecting them to the elderly care and residential sector, helping to prevent exclusion for the elderly.

Photo Credit: Frederik Beyens