Now that the first Swiss SMEs have successfully taken control of their sustainability reporting, they are beginning to focus on setting meaningful goals. Along the way, we’ve learned the importance of striking a balance between quick wins—those that can be achieved in the short term—and long-term objectives that require more time, resources, and strategic planning. This balanced approach enables businesses to build immediate momentum while laying the groundwork for broader, more impactful outcomes. It’s a thoughtful way to drive progress without overstretching limited resources, ensuring sustainable growth and meaningful impact.

When setting sustainability goals, we have learned that it is important to balance quick wins—those achievable in the short term—with long-term goals that require more time, resources, and planning. This approach allows businesses to generate immediate momentum while working toward broader, strategic objectives. For Swiss SMEs, this balance can be particularly valuable as it seeks progress without overwhelming limited resources.

What are quick wins?

We understand quick wins as smaller, achievable actions that deliver noticeable improvements in sustainability performance. These actions typically require fewer resources and less time to implement, making them ideal for building early momentum and demonstrating commitment to sustainability.

Examples of quick wins for SMEs:

1. Reducing energy use in offices: Switch to LED lighting, install motion sensors, and optimize HVAC settings to cut energy consumption.

   • Impact: Immediate reduction in energy costs and carbon footprint.

   • Implementation Timeline: Weeks to a few months.

2. Employee awareness campaigns: Launch sustainability education programs or encourage eco-friendly commuting (e.g., carpooling or public transport incentives).

   • Impact: Increases employee engagement in sustainability efforts with minimal upfront investment.

   • Implementation Timeline: A few weeks.

3. Sourcing locally: Shift to local suppliers for products and materials to reduce transportation emissions.

   • Impact: Supports local economies while reducing Scope 3 emissions.

   • Implementation Timeline: 1–3 months.

Quick wins are not only practical but can also serve as confidence-builders. They can inspire internal stakeholders and provide measurable results that demonstrate progress to customers and investors.

If you’re inspired by the idea of balancing quick wins and long-term goals, why not dive deeper into actionable short-term measures? Discover a range of high-impact short-term actions specifically designed for Swiss SMEs that deliver real results without requiring extensive time or resources.

What are long-term goals?

Long-term goals can be understood as broader, strategic objectives that require significant planning, investment, and time to achieve. These goals address deep-rooted sustainability challenges and align with global frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi).

Examples of long-term goals for SMEs:

1. Achieving carbon neutrality: Transition to renewable energy sources, optimize supply chains, and invest in carbon offset programs.

   • Impact: Positions the company as a sustainability leader and reduces regulatory risks as emissions standards tighten globally.

   • Implementation Timeline: 5–10 years.

2. Circular economy initiatives: Redesign products to use recycled materials, implement take-back programs, or build waste-to-resource systems.

   • Impact: Minimizes waste while creating new value streams.

   • Implementation Timeline: 3–5 years.

3. Building a diverse and inclusive workforce: Develop long-term recruitment and retention strategies to improve workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

   • Impact: Enhances workplace culture and strengthens employer branding.

   • Implementation Timeline: 2–5 years.

Long-term goals often align with the broader vision of the company, requiring buy-in from senior leadership and stakeholders. These goals demonstrate a company’s commitment to systemic change and resilience in the face of environmental, social, and governance challenges.

How quick wins and long-term goals can work together

While quick wins deliver short-term results, they do not have to exist in isolation. Instead, they can align with and pave the way for achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Example of alignment:

• Quick win: Implement energy-efficient lighting and reduce office energy consumption by 10% within six months.

• Long-term goal: Transition to 100% renewable energy across all facilities within five years.

  • How they connect: The energy savings from the quick win contribute to the overall renewable energy transition strategy.

Tips for prioritizing quick wins and long-term goals

1. Assess impact and feasibility: Use a simple matrix to rank potential actions based on impact and ease of implementation. Quick wins will typically rank high on feasibility and moderate on impact, while long-term goals often rank high on impact but lower on feasibility.

   Impact vs. feasibility matrix:

1. Leverage quick wins for buy-in: Demonstrate success with quick wins to gain support from employees, stakeholders, and leadership for longer-term initiatives.

2. Monitor progress: Use KPIs to track both quick wins and long-term goals, ensuring they remain aligned with your overall sustainability vision.

In summary: Balancing quick wins and long-term goals can allow you to address immediate sustainability challenges while creating a foundation for lasting change. By celebrating short-term successes and maintaining focus on larger strategic objectives, businesses can make consistent progress and build resilience for the future.