ESG Consulting for Companies

Yes: Ollum tailors the process to the clients’ actual needs, without imposing a one-size-fits-all model. For companies approaching sustainability for the first time, we begin with an analysis of the current situation—which helps us understand where to start, what the priorities are, and what resources are needed. The solution is custom-tailored, with full transparency, and without upfront costs that are disproportionate to the starting point.

Flexibility is one of Ollum’s key strengths. The ESG roadmap is tailored to the company’s specific context—size, industry, supply chain, objectives, and available budget—without imposing standard packages. For companies with limited budgets but high ambitions, this means starting with what has the greatest impact in the short term: a carbon footprint calculation, an ESG rating, a certification required by the supply chain, or a voluntary sustainability report using simplified standards such as VSME. The level of detail increases over time, in a gradual and sustainable manner. Furthermore, Ollum’s approach—based on continuous communication and support at every stage—ensures that the process also serves as a learning experience for the internal team, reducing dependence on the consultant over time and maximizing the value of the investment.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer: the most useful service depends on the industry, the supply chain, the clients, and the company’s regulatory obligations. The most common entry points for an SME are a sustainability report, carbon footprint calculation, and ESG ratings —but in some cases, the first step is a certification required directly by the supply chain, such asan EPD. Ollum’s approach is to start with the client’s specific situation to build a tailored path forward. SMEs starting from scratch shouldn’t feel intimidated: Ollum works with companies at any stage, and its goal is always to find the solution best suited to the actual context.

Ollum tackles internal resistance to sustainability by focusing on two concrete levers. The first is methodological: the use of recognized international standards (GHG Protocol, ISO, GRI, ESRS) ensures measurability and rigor, making sustainability a technical matter rather than an ideological one. The second is strategic: today, sustainability is no longer just a matter of corporate ethics, but a selection criterion in supply chains and a competitive advantage in the eyes of consumers. Building on these facts makes it possible to transform skepticism into concrete motivation.

The starting point is always an analysis of the company’s actual situation: industry, supply chain, regulatory requirements, and priorities. Based on this, Ollum develops a customized plan —the most common starting points are the sustainability report, carbon footprint calculation, and ESG rating, but these vary depending on the context. Throughout the project, Ollum maintains constant communication with internal contacts: the company’s team learns as the project progresses, building ESG expertise that remains within the company even after the collaboration ends.

For an SME starting from scratch, the first step is an in-depth analysis of its specific situation—industry, supply chain, clients, regulatory requirements—to understand where it makes the most sense to begin. Ollum takes exactly this approach, designing a customized path without imposing a standard model. The most common entry points are the sustainability report, carbon footprint calculation, and ESG rating, but in some cases, the first step is a certification required by the supply chain. SMEs starting from scratch should not feel intimidated: Ollum works with companies at any level of ESG maturity. Furthermore, Ollum’s approach involves ongoing support and communication throughout the project, making the process highly educational for the client.

Ollum addresses this issue right from the initial sales phase: the analysis of the client’s situation includes an assessment of what is needed internally—data, contacts, time—and the proposal is developed with full transparency based on these elements. Throughout the project, ongoing communication with internal contacts allows requests to be managed gradually, without sudden surges in workload.

Ollum does not work with fixed price lists: every offer is tailor-made during the initial sales phase, based on the project’s needs and the company’s context. There are no standard packages because every project is different—in terms of size, industry, starting point, and objectives. The first step is always a direct discussion to understand what is truly needed.

Ollum is structured to manage projects with an international scope. Ollum is part of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group, which operates in over 40 countries, and can draw on the group’s foreign branches to support clients abroad as well. Italian clients are served in Italian, with integrated management of the foreign branches as well.

For a startup, building an ESG strategy from the ground up is a competitive advantage—not a cost. It avoids the need to “play catch-up” in the future and builds credibility right from the first rounds of investment.

Why It Pays to Start with ESG Right Away

• Institutional investors and venture capital funds are increasingly factoring ESG considerations into their investment decisions
• Large B2B clients require verifiable ESG data from their suppliers: being well-prepared from the start helps prevent missed business opportunities
• Building an ESG data collection system from the ground up is much less expensive than doing so after the fact

How Ollum Supports Italian Startups

• Initial ESG Assessment: Where You Stand Today and What Needs to Be Built
• Defining a Minimum Set of Measurable and Sustainable ESG KPIs for a Lean Organization
• Establishment of an ESG data collection system from the initial operational phase onward, including carbon footprint, product LCA data, and the organization’s ESG factors
• Support for Reporting to Investors (SFDR, ESG Reporting for Funds)
• A gradual approach commensurate with available resources: no oversizing

Yes, Ollum also works with micro-businesses that do not yet have any internal structure dedicated to sustainability.

Why It Makes Sense for Even Micro-Businesses to Get Started

• B2B clients—even large ones—are increasingly requesting ESG data from their suppliers, regardless of size
• Environmental certifications (EPD, ISO 14001) and ESG ratings (EcoVadis) are required in public tenders and supplier qualification processes
• Starting with a small, well-executed project is worth much more than a generic, overblown report

How Ollum Works with Microbusinesses

• Free initial assessment to determine where you’re starting from and what your real priorities are
• Projects tailored to available resources: no oversizing, no unnecessary processes
• A practical and direct approach: we’re a boutique firm, not a large organization with rigid processes

Ollum does not specialize in business internationalization tools, but it does have specific expertise in an area that directly affects SMEs with a strong focus on exports: compliance with ESG regulations in foreign markets. Being part of the TÜV AUSTRIA Group—which operates in over 40 countries worldwide—means being able to rely on local branches to access regulations, technical standards, and ESG requirements specific to target markets. For an Italian SME that exports, this translates into certifications recognized in target markets—such as FDES for France, PEP Ecopassport, and internationally valid EPDs —and ESG reporting that meets the requirements of major foreign clients, who are becoming increasingly demanding in this regard.

Ollum is a long-standing partner of Federlegno Arredo: several of the association’s sustainability initiatives are developed in collaboration with Ollum, including participation in webinars and industry trade shows. This partnership has enabled Ollum to build specialized expertise in the furniture and design sector, with firsthand knowledge of supply chains, environmental regulations, and the specific needs of companies in the industry.

During the acquisition process, ESG due diligence complements financial due diligence to assess the target company’s sustainability risks. Ollum structures this process with expertise and experience: it analyzes the ESG situation, identifies risks—such as regulatory noncompliance regarding emissions, waste, or environmental permits—and defines the areas requiring mitigation. The result is a clear framework upon which to base contractual agreements with defined corrective actions and precise timelines.