Manual for the VSME TOOL 2026

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Before you start
Quick Start
Troubleshooting
External recourses

Welcome & Purpose of the Tool

VSME TOOL is an introduction to the VSME standard and covers the entire process of preparing a VSME sustainability report. The VSME is for micro-, small- and medium enterprises (SME, KMU, KMO, MKB). For entrepreneurs, advisors, accountants and students.

Create a VSME report, https://excelvsme.eu/
VSMETOOL_r752026_1

What is VSME

The VSME standard is an edition of the European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS) specially designed for small-, medium- and micro companies.

After making a VSME sustainability report you will know the gap between your environmental impact and a climate neutral and circular business practice in 2050.

Your clients and financial partners could need this information to comply to law and regulations like the CSRD.

https://knowledgehub.efrag.org/eng#2025-vsme-and-vsme-ecosystem

BEFORE YOU START WITH THE VSME TOOL

– read the latest version of the VSME standard
– recommended: Create an EFRAG Knowledge Hub account (https://knowledgehub.efrag.org/)
– read the agreement: https://excelvsme.eu/fair-use-policy/
– read the manual: https://excelvsme.eu/manual-for-the-vsme-tool-2026/
– make a copy of the VSME TOOL files as a clean backup

Excel paste data into a cel

When pasting text into excel always make sure it is plain text
Option A:
Paste into the formula bar at the top, this strips all styling and hidden html.
Option B:
Use the Paste option at the left top. Use Match Destination Formatting.

System Requirements

Minimum:
Excel: Microsoft Excel 365 Desktop (Build ≥ 2308)

OS: Windows 10 (64-bit), RAM: 8 GB (minimum), CPU: Dual-core ≥ 2.0 GHz, Storage: 500 MB free disk space

MacBook Air (M1 or newer), RAM: 8 GB (minimum), Storage: SSD

Recommended: RAM: 16 GB, SSD storage, Display larger than 24″
Not Supported: ❌ Excel Online, ❌ Legacy Excel versions (2016/2019)

Getting Started (Quick Start Guide)

– Open the VSME TOOL in Excel 365 Desktop application
– the opening screen is ‘Settings‘;
– Choose your language for the tool and the final report here.
(It is not recommended to change this later because dropdown menus do not update automatically, and neither does your own text.)
– Read the instructions via the URL behind the button Publish – Convert data to Word report

Tool Overview (Navigation & Structure)

– You can access all sections via the internal links on this page
– It indicates whether the section is mandatory, if applicable, or optional next to the chapter.
– Status: here you can see the completion status for each section.
– If you do not wish to provide something due to its sensitivity, please check the checkbox.

Structure:
1. General sections
2. Basic Module
3. Extended module
4. Additional data

Navigation:
– You can use the Table of Contents button on disclosure page to go back
– You can also use the sheet names or Excel Sheet Navigation pane.

Direct Help on Disclosures:
– you find disclosure paragraph Urls at the left side of the disclosures. This will direct you to the EFRAG Knowledge Hub (default setting, but adjustable)

Understanding the Data & VSME Logic

There are two Modules. Choose the Basic Module or the Basic and Comprehensive module.
There are questions about ESG (Environment, Social and Governance).
Per Module you can check if a disclosure is Mandatory, If Applicable or Optional.
If you can’t answer the disclosure even if this is Mandatory, in example because of different National standards like B7 Waste, you can also choose to disclose this via the ‘Entity specific disclosures’ section.

It is recommended that you read the VSME standard before using the tool. You can use the EFRAG Knowledge Hub to dive in the standard.

External Resources and Knowledge

EFRAG Knowledge Hub

Troubleshooting

Excel paste data into a cel – gone wrong

Your text field is ruined. How to fix this:

Delete the content in the ruined cel (Del or Backspace)
Copy an other cel with the original formatting (ctrl+c or Command+c)
double-click in the ruined cel
press ctrl+x
press enter
go back on the formal ruined cel but not double-click
press ctrl+v

Languages – corrections – adjust – replace

– All languages can be adjusted in the sheets ending with “_translation”.
– Languages are translations from English using AI.

Gray fields – black coloured

– If something is greyed out/blacked out, you do not need to fill in this section.
– These fields are subject to results you enter; there are dependencies between fields.
For example, the Extended Module is greyed out if you selected ‘only the Basic Module’ under B1 – Basis for Preparation

HOW TO PUBLISH A VSME REPORT WITH VSME TOOL 2026

Open a new, empty Excel workbook.
Open the VSME TOOL.
Go to the Publish sheet.
Right‑click the sheet tab and choose Move or Copy.
Under “To book”, select the new empty workbook.
IMPORTANT: Check the Create a copy checkbox and click OK.
Close the VSME TOOL.
Save the new workbook (containing the copied Publish sheet) in a location you can find easily.
Open an AI provider (such as Copilot, ChatGPT or Mistral).
Drag and drop:
- the new workbook (with the copied Publish sheet), and
- the Word Template
  into the AI chat.
Copy and paste the provided AI prompt into the chat and press Enter / Run.
If the AI asks questions, reply for example with “give me the download” or start a new chat.
You will receive the complete VSME report as a Word document, styled according to the Word Template.
If an error occurs or the report has mistakes, just run it again in a new chat.