The Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General of the European Commission has developed a set of tools for SMEs including an introductory guide to CSR, a 26-point questionnaire to raise awareness, a guide to help companies effectively communicate their work and concrete case studies.

In a 2005 study, the ORSE explains how sustainable development can add value to SMEs, their stakeholders’ expectations and the tools available to them to implement a social responsibility process.

In its 2007 handbook, the French Business Confederation (MEDEF) addressed the various aspects of sustainable development which drive economic performance, and the possible ways to incorporate the social and environmental factors into the activity of organizations. A list of tools is available at the end of the handbook.

This summary guide published by the Assembly of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACFCI), together with the French National Association for Standardization (AFNOR), identifies obstacles and opportunities for SMEs engaging in sustainable development, and summarizes the different steps involved in conducting responsible projects.

The GRI has developed a tool called “Let’s Report”. It intends to help implement a reporting process. A 10-point summary explains the steps to take in order to prepare a GRI report. In addition a Level C reporting template is available and can be completed directly in the document provided.

This Guide published by France’s Small and Medium-Sized Employers’ Organization (CGPME) is part of an European initiative to provide directors of PMEs with support that is suited to the way they work and their requirements.
On the basis of testimonies of responsible businesses, the CGPME offers a methodology, ideas for discussion and practical information, taking SMEs’ constraints into consideration, whether they be financial or linked to lack of time, staff and/or expertise.
The guide is divided into themes. For each theme addressed, the guide sets out the major steps of a CSR process, the tools available to implement them and one or more example(s) of best practices.

The Commission has published in 2010 a study on SMEs and the environment in the EU. The report estimates the environmental impact from SMEs in Europe and analyses the administrative burdens from EU environmental legislation and the business opportunities for SMEs with concrete examples from 13 European countries.
The study comes with a web based toolkit to assist policy-makers and SMEs in developing environmental improvements. A database allows the user to compare the environmental impact of certain indicators among Member States and within a specific industrial sector per type of company.