Australian SMEs Urged to Monitor GHG Reporting as Large Companies Seek Sustainability Data
We actively engage with governments, regulators, and standard-setters on behalf of members and the profession to advocate boldly for the public good.

(Photo: SBR)
SYDNEY, Oct. 13, 2025 — Chartered Accountants ANZ, or CA ANZ, and the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, or ASBFEO, have collaborated on a guide to assist small to medium enterprises, or SMEs, in understanding the potential requests for greenhouse gas, or GHG, emissions data.
SMEs in Australia are being advised to increase their awareness of GHG emissions measurement due to potential reporting requests from larger companies.
CA ANZâŻCEO Ainslie van Onselen said, “Mandatory climate-related financial disclosures commenced for large business and financial institutions at the beginning of this year, but what smaller businesses may not realise is this could also affect them.
“While there is currently no obligation for small business to report information relating to their GHG emissions, if SMEs are in the supply chain for large businesses or government, they may be asked to provide this information, especially if they are in high-emitting sectors such as Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation and Logistics.”
SMEs Benefit from Climate Reporting
Climate Reporting: The guide is part of an initiative to help SMEs understand the types of information they may need to provide about their GHG emissions as part of the supply chain to larger businesses.
Bruce Billson from the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman stated: “I encourage SMEs to take the time to read the guide and become familiar with climate-related reporting requirements around GHG emissions. Being prepared and understanding potential reporting obligations could give your business a competitive advantage."
Incorporating Climate-related Info: According to Bruce, by including climate-related information in tenders, it will give confidence to potential new clients or customers that SMEs are prepared and are considering sustainability issues.
Recently, CA ANZ endorsed a review of auditor compliance, which advocates for more explicit expectations that would enable auditors to better meet their responsibilities and uphold trust in the public eye. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or ASIC, released a report titled Building Trust, which examines the compliance of auditors with independence and conflict-of-interest guidelines.
PepsiCo’s Sustainability Accelerator: In January this year, PepsiCo opened applications for the third edition of its Greenhouse Accelerator Program in the Asia Pacific region, targeting A/NZ sustainability startups.
The program is designed to support startups working on solutions that contribute to the circular economy, climate action, and sustainable agriculture. It offers equity-free grants of USD $20,000, with the potential for an additional USD $100,000 grant for those selected as winners.
Over the previous years, the program has achieved notable participation from Australian and New Zealand startups. Companies such as Captivate Technologies, Aspiring Materials, and ELIoT Energy have been finalists in previous editions, continuing the trend of strong representation from this region. Specific initiatives include a mentorship scheme that provides business advisory and collaboration with PepsiCo executives and other experts, enhancing the potential for startups to bring their innovations to market. Additionally, finalists can pitch directly to investors and executives at PepsiCo, offering further visibility and potential investment.
How is CA ANZ Serving Startups
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand represents more than 140,000 financial professionals, supporting them in making a difference to the businesses, organisations, and communities where they work and live. Chartered Accountants are recognized for the impact they make. The depth and breadth of their expertise allow them to see the big picture and chart the best course of action.
CA ANZ promotes the Chartered Accountant designation and high ethical standards, delivers world-class services and life-long education to members, and advocates for the public good. “We protect the reputation of the designation by ensuring members continue to comply with a code of ethics, backed by a robust discipline process. We also monitor Chartered Accountants who offer services directly to the public,” as per a company statement.
“Our flagship CA Program, the pathway to becoming a Chartered Accountant, combines rigorous education with practical experience. Ongoing professional development helps members shape business decisions and remain relevant in a changing world.”
“We actively engage with governments, regulators, and standard-setters on behalf of members and the profession to advocate boldly for the public good. Our thought leadership promotes prosperity in Australia and New Zealand,” the statement further added.
Australian SMEs are increasingly expected to track, measure, and report their GHG emissions, as larger companies use this information to assess sustainability, ensure compliance, and make critical supply chain decisions.
Inputs from Saqib Malik
Editing by David Ryder