ESG compliance for UK small businesses

Your green claims
could cost you
10% of turnover.

Since April 2025, the CMA can fine any UK business up to 10% of global turnover for vague sustainability claims — no court needed. Verdra gets you compliant, certified, and protected.

Is your website exposed?
High risk "We are an eco-friendly company"
High risk "Our packaging is sustainable"
Needs proof "Carbon neutral by 2030"
Needs proof "Committed to net zero"
Compliant "100% Scope 1 & 2 offset, verified by Carbon Trust"
10%
of global turnover — the maximum CMA fine for misleading green claims. In force since April 2025.
48%
of UK SMEs pursuing ESG goals don't know where to start
200k
green-skilled workers short — demand outpacing supply 2:1
2.3M
UK private landlords under ESG and compliance pressure
£6.7bn
ESG consulting market growing at 12% CAGR globally
What we do

Three services.
One clear path.

Start with a quick audit. Graduate to certification. Stay protected with an ongoing retainer. Each step builds on the last.

01
From £500
Green Claims Audit

We review every public sustainability claim your business makes — website, packaging, social, ads — against the CMA Green Claims Code. You get a plain-English report and a compliant rewrite of every flagged claim.

£500–£1,200 · one-off · 5–10 days
02
Most popular
EcoVadis Certification

We manage your full EcoVadis assessment from start to finish. Gap analysis, policy writing, evidence gathering, submission. You get a verified scorecard to share with every customer — proving you're a responsible supplier without internal hours lost.

£1,500–£3,500 · 4–8 weeks · first-time pass guaranteed
03
Recurring
ESG Retainer

Your outsourced sustainability function. We handle annual score maintenance, new supplier questionnaires, carbon data updates, and policy refreshes — without hiring a full-time sustainability manager.

£150–£400 / month · 12-month minimum
The process

Simple. No jargon.
No nonsense.

Most ESG consultants make this feel complicated. It isn't. Here is exactly what happens when you work with Verdra.

01
Free 30-minute call

We look at your situation honestly — what regulations apply to you, what your customers are asking for, and what your biggest exposure is right now. If we can't help you, we'll say so and point you in the right direction.

No obligation. No sales pitch. Just a straight conversation.
02
Audit and gap analysis

We review your existing claims, policies, and documentation. We map where you are against the standard you need to meet — whether that's the CMA Green Claims Code, EcoVadis criteria, or a specific customer questionnaire.

You'll know exactly what needs doing — and what it costs — before committing further.
03
We do the work

Policy writing, data gathering, evidence packaging, submission management. We handle the heavy lifting. Typical EcoVadis projects require 5–8 hours from your team in total. We handle everything else.

Average client time commitment: 5–8 hours over 4–8 weeks.
04
Certified and protected

You get a verified scorecard or compliant claims documentation. Use it in tenders, share it with customers, publish it on your website. We stay on as your retainer to keep it current year on year.

EcoVadis scores are reusable with every customer — one certification, unlimited value.
Who we work with

Built for businesses
getting the call.

The email from a major customer asking about your sustainability credentials. The EcoVadis request you don't know how to answer. The green claims fine you didn't know was coming. We fix all three.

Manufacturing & Supply Chain
"We've received an EcoVadis request"
Large manufacturers are passing Scope 3 requirements down their supply chains. If you supply to anyone with 250+ staff, this is coming — or already here.
Consumer Brands
"We say sustainable on our packaging"
Any brand making environmental claims without evidence is exposed under the CMA's new powers. "Eco-friendly" without proof is a legal risk, not a marketing asset.
Public Sector Suppliers
"We tender for government contracts"
PPN 006 requires a Carbon Reduction Plan for all suppliers bidding above £5M. Most SMEs have no idea this applies to them.
Food & Agriculture
"Our retailers are asking questions"
UK supermarkets and distributors are under Scope 3 pressure and pass it directly to their suppliers. If you supply retail, this lands on your desk.
Professional Services
"Clients want our ESG position"
Accountancy firms, solicitors, consultancies — clients increasingly treat ESG credentials as a condition of doing business, especially in financial services.
Charities & Social Enterprise
"Grant applications need ESG data"
Foundations and corporate CSR teams increasingly require credible ESG credentials before committing funding or partnership. A verified score opens the door.
Common questions

The things people
actually ask.

"Is this really a legal requirement?"

The CMA fine isn't triggered by ESG reporting — it's triggered by making green claims you can't substantiate. If you say "sustainable" or "eco-friendly" anywhere publicly without evidence, you're already at risk. That's been the case since April 2025.

"We're too small for this to apply to us."

The CMA Green Claims Code applies to any business of any size making environmental claims to UK consumers. There is no turnover threshold. The fine ceiling scales with your size — but the obligation doesn't.

"We already do the right things — we just haven't documented it."

That's the most common situation we see — and the easiest to fix. EcoVadis doesn't require perfection. It requires evidence of what you're already doing. Most SMEs score higher than they expect once documentation is in place.

"Can't we just do EcoVadis ourselves?"

Yes — but the average SME spends 150–400 internal hours on a first assessment without expert help. A low score can cost you contracts worth far more than our fee. We guarantee a first-time pass.

"Is this just for London firms?"

That's exactly the gap Verdra exists to fill. The Big Four charge £10k+ for this work. We're built for SMEs across the UK — practical, fixed-fee, designed for businesses with 5 to 250 employees.

Start with a free
30-minute call.

We'll look at your situation honestly. Tell you what applies to you. Give you a clear picture of your risk — and what fixing it costs. No obligation, no pressure.

Based in South Yorkshire · Working with UK SMEs nationwide · verdra.io