Resilient SME’s in China: ESG Meets Quality

Peredy, Zoltán and Vigh, László and Li, Jixuan (2026) Resilient SME’s in China: ESG Meets Quality. ACTA PERIODICA (EDUTUS), 2025 (A/2). pp. 35-49. ISSN 2063-501X

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Abstract

The growing relevance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations, together with long-established Quality Management (QM) frameworks, is reshaping the sustainable operational landscape of Chinese SMEs. Although SMEs possess flexibility and innovation capacity, resource constraints hinder their ability to meet increasingly complex sustainability requirements. This study synthesizes global ESG developments, the status of ESG–QM integration in China, and practical insights from SME case evidence. Findings show that aligning ESG elements with existing QM processes—such as PDCA cycles, process optimisation and employee training—can generate cost-effective pathways to improve both operational quality and sustainability performance. However, challenges persist in disclosure standards, technical skills, and policy interpretation. The paper proposes an integrated ESG–QM framework that supports SMEs in advancing strategic competitiveness while contributing to China’s broader “dual-carbon” goals.

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