Sustainability tends to remain relevant when it is reviewed in the same way as quality or productivity: regularly, with clear ownership and a small number of practical indicators. Instead of complex dashboards that are rarely used, a simple and focused set of metrics can support everyday decision-making.
As a starting point, SMEs may track a few operational signals such as energy cost and energy use per unit, scrap and waste-related costs, the share of waste recycled or reused, and one indicator reflecting process stability (for example rework or downtime). This is not a full ESG model, but a pragmatic baseline that helps identify inefficiencies and risks.
Even a small dashboard can turn sustainability from a reporting exercise into a management tool, acting as an early warning system for both environmental and operational performance. Over time, it can be expanded once the indicators, data ownership, and review rhythm are well established.