Greek SMEs and Sustainable Development: An Evaluation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The aim of this chapter is to provide a first assessment of the performance of Greek SMEs in relation to the 17 SDGs. In order to map how Greece is approaching the ambitious targets of the SDGs, it is essential to assess the direct and indirect links between SMEs and the 17 SDGs. The 17 SDGs call for corporate transformation (ESG—Environmental, Social and Governance) and the adoption of new business models through more sustainable and ethical business practices. In Greece, SMEs are linked (directly or indirectly) to the 17 SDGs and can be transformed into sustainability accelerators. In terms of their compatibility with the 17 SDGs, SMEs in Greece are struggling to improve their performance, but they are still far from achieving the goals. At best, as the current assessment shows, their performance on most goals is improving moderately (i.e., SDGs 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15), while it is stagnating on the remaining goals. Thus, an assessment of the contribution of Greek SMEs to the achievement of the SDGs shows that limited access to finance is a critical obstacle that does not allow further progress towards the achievement of the SDGs.