The Erasmus+ project D-GREEN – Digital Sustainability for SMEs has officially begun, launching a two-year European cooperation initiative dedicated to promoting more sustainable digital practices among small and medium-sized enterprises.
Funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ KA220 – VET Cooperation Partnerships programme, D-GREEN will run from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2027. The project brings together organisations with complementary expertise in vocational education and training, ICT, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and SME support, all working towards a shared goal: reducing the environmental and social impact of digital technologies used by SMEs.
The project is coordinated by Assindustria Consulting Srl (Italy) and implemented by a consortium of six organisations from five European countries. Alongside the coordinator, the partnership includes Learnable (Italy), the European Center of Entrepreneurship Competence & Excellence (Austria), Neotalentway S.L. (Spain), Let’s Do It World NGO (Estonia), and the Blekinge Institute of Technology (Sweden). This transnational collaboration ensures a strong balance between research, training, sustainability expertise, and real-world engagement with SMEs.
In recent years, SMEs have increasingly relied on digital technologies such as cloud computing, enterprise IT systems, and digital manufacturing tools to support their business operations. While digitalisation offers clear advantages in terms of efficiency and competitiveness, it also generates significant environmental and social impacts that are often underestimated or poorly managed. D-GREEN responds directly to this challenge by supporting a more responsible and sustainable use of ICTs within small and medium-sized enterprises.
The main objective of the project is to help SMEs reduce the negative environmental and social footprint of their digital technologies, while at the same time improving their effectiveness and long-term resilience. To achieve this, D-GREEN focuses on strengthening the skills and competencies of vocational education and training professionals, including ICT experts, sustainability specialists, consultants, and trainers, enabling them to design and deliver high-quality training on ICT sustainability tailored to the needs of SMEs. In parallel, the project aims to empower SME managers and workers with practical knowledge and tools to implement digital technologies in a more sustainable and conscious way. A further key ambition of D-GREEN is to raise awareness of ICT sustainability practices and highlight their concrete benefits for businesses.
The project addresses both VET professionals who work closely with SMEs and SME managers and employees who are directly involved in ICT-based services, infrastructure, and digital processes. By connecting these two groups, D-GREEN seeks to create a shared understanding of sustainable digital practices and to facilitate their effective adoption across different organisational contexts.
From an operational perspective, the project is structured around four main work areas, covering management and implementation, the development of educational content, practical tools, and communication activities. One of the central outputs will be the D-GREEN Handbook, a practical guide designed for VET trainers and professionals who develop and deliver training courses on ICT sustainability for SMEs. The handbook will be created through a participatory process involving national workshops in all partner countries and will also be made available in digital format. Complementing this output, the D-GREEN Backpack will provide practical resources and tools to support the application of sustainable ICT practices in real business settings. Communication and dissemination activities will ensure that project results reach a wide audience at European level through a dedicated visual identity, online presence, and outreach materials.
Following the kick-off meeting, the partnership has already started working on the first project activities, including management structures, quality assurance processes, and coordination tools. At the same time, preparations are underway for the initial stakeholder workshops that will play a key role in shaping the content and structure of the D-GREEN Handbook, ensuring it is firmly grounded in the real needs and challenges faced by SMEs and VET professionals.
Through its integrated approach, D-GREEN aims to make sustainability a concrete and achievable component of digital transformation for SMEs, contributing to Europe’s green and digital transition by turning responsible ICT use into a strategic asset for innovation, competitiveness, and long-term growth.
