In 2025, the EU adjusted the level of ambition for sustainability reporting by extending the deadlines and reducing the requirements. – This has made it even more relevant for many companies to create a simple sustainability report based on the Voluntary Reporting Standard for SMEs (VSME),” says Sanness.
On the agenda since 2022
She explains that sustainability reporting has been on the agenda in the Norwegian Wood Cluster since 2022. – “There has been a great willingness to share at the many workshops we have organized, and the feedback has been that this has been very valuable for the companies. The cluster also developed its own sustainability reporting guide for the forestry and wood industry to provide an overview and make it easier for companies to retrieve relevant key figures,” says Sanness.
– However, the status is that few of the SMEs in our cluster have so far taken on the task of creating their own sustainability report. The situation is the same among the SMEs in Sweden that are from our sector,” says Sanness. She is now promoting a course in simple sustainability reporting with SMEs as the target group.
Norwegian-Swedish course offerings
The Interreg project “Circular Bioeconomy Arena” focuses on SMEs and now invites you to a course in simple sustainability reporting for SMEs. The course will be held at Mjøstårnet on March 11-12, 2026. By participating in the course, you get:
- A complete VSME report that meets the EU voluntary sustainability standard
- Peace of mind ahead of future sustainability requirements from customers and stakeholders
- Increased competitiveness by meeting the demands of larger players and tenders
- Ability to meet larger companies’ needs for sustainability data from suppliers
- Improved internal management of sustainability issues in your own company
- Offer of a mentoring session after the course
The course instructors are advisor Ida Marie H. Guldbrandsen and advisor Vegard Grønnerud at Klosser Innovation. Both have an industrial education and broad experience from various businesses, including in the field of sustainability. They will assist both during the implementation of the course itself and as mentors afterwards.
Interreg project Circular Bioeconomy Arena
Circular Bioeconomy Arena is a Norwegian-Swedish interreg project owned by Norwegian Wood Cluster and Paper Province. The project collaborates closely with Innovatum Science Park, Dalerna Science Park, Byggdialog Dalerna, Sting Innovation, Klosser Innovation, Kjeller Innovation and Circular Packaging Cluster.
Circular wood construction has a strong focus in the project. It also works with start-up companies on the Norwegian and Swedish sides that work within the forest bioeconomy.
The project is funded by Interreg Sweden-Norway and EU funds, as well as with support from Innlandet County, Akershus County, Buskerud County, Østfold County, Region Värmland, Region Västra Götaland, Region Dalerna, Vinnova and DNB.