According to data from the World Economic Forum, more than 400 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate around the world today. Together, they make up about 90 percent of all companies and generate more than half of global employment.
Although SMEs are drivers of economic growth and a cornerstone of the global economy, they are also responsible for nearly two-thirds of industrial CO₂ emissions—making them key actors in the fight against climate change. At the same time, the climate crisis has changed the rules of the business game: sustainability is no longer a choice, but a prerequisite for survival and competitiveness. For many SMEs, which already operate under demanding market conditions, transitioning to sustainable business models presents an additional challenge—but also an opportunity to strengthen resilience and long-term growth through the green transition.
That’s why, if you are an SME owner, you have likely asked yourself: Where do I begin? How can I stay competitive while making my business more sustainable?
ProCredit Bank has offered a simple answer to the challenge these economic pillars face—the Net Zero Calculator, the first digital tool of its kind on our market, designed to help businesses easily measure and understand their carbon footprint.
As Marina Mijić, Head of the Sustainable Development Department at ProCredit Bank, told me in our conversation, the idea for this tool did not originate in an office, but from the real needs of entrepreneurs.
“Through daily contact with our clients, we realized that many companies want to operate more responsibly but don’t know how. They lack data, tools, and even simple explanations on where to start. So we wanted to give them exactly that—the first step that doesn’t require expert knowledge,” Marina explained.
And that is how the Net Zero Calculator was created—a tool that allows any business, by entering basic information about electricity consumption, fuel, transport, and raw materials, to calculate its direct and indirect CO₂ emissions. The result is a clear overview by sectors, showing where the most energy is consumed and where emissions can be reduced.
“The calculator is free and designed so that anyone can use it, regardless of the company’s size or sector. It’s the first step toward sustainable business that also brings concrete savings,” Marina added.
The tool is already available on the ProCredit Bank website, along with the Net Zero Guide, which helps businesses prepare the necessary data and immediately obtain relevant results.
But ProCredit Bank doesn’t intend to stop there. As Miloš Stepandić, Head of Corporate Banking, emphasizes, the essence lies in partnership—not just in offering a tool.
“Many small and medium-sized businesses are just entering the ESG transition and don’t have enough resources or knowledge to cope with the requirements of new EU regulations, such as CBAM. Our role is to support them—not only with advice but also with financial products for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources,” says Stepandić.
And that is the key message: ESG is not a cost—it is an investment in the future. This is especially true for companies that export or cooperate with partners from the European Union. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) will soon require exporters to report the emissions embedded in their products, and those who fail to do so will face additional costs and barriers.
“Companies that start measuring their footprint and reducing emissions now will have a significant advantage—regulatory, market, and reputational. That’s why we say this calculator is a competitiveness tool, not just an environmental one,” Miloš emphasizes.
ProCredit Bank plans to continue developing the tool and educating clients, as well as strengthening its internal capacities—because, as they say, the goal is for every advisor to also become an ESG advisor.
The Net Zero Calculator, therefore, is more than just a digital tool. It is an invitation to change the way we think, operate, and approach the resources around us. And if that change can begin with a single click—then a sustainable future has never been closer.
Milena Maglovski
