This book tackles a largely neglected topic: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their environmental impact. Over 90% of all firms are SMEs. Their importance to the health of national and international economies is recognized. But what of their environmental impact? Individually, this may be small but, collectively, they pose a huge and largely unregulated threat to national and indeed the global environment. There have been many failed attempts to engage SMEs in environmental stewardship. Why is this? And where are the success stories needed to set best-practice examples? Environmental protection is widely touted as being a win-win scenario for business with economic spin-offs in terms of energy and waste reduction quickly producing payback for capital expenditures. Why is the "good environmental management equals good business management" message not getting through? In Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Environment Dr Ruth Hillary brings together an outstanding international collection of experts from government, international and national support agencies, academics and the business community to present arguments about the key environmental business imperatives facing the small-firm sector. The book is divided into four sections:Attitudes and Perceptions of Small Firms to the Environment and SustainabilityEnvironmental Management in the Smaller FirmPractical Strategies for Reaching SMEsCase Studies from around the World.

In these sections, the book examines the threats - such as trade, supply chain issues and legislative compliance - but is also solution-oriented, with considerable discussion of the management tools smaller firms can use to improve their environmental performance. It aims to provide practical strategies for smaller firms and to that end includes a range of informative case studies from around the world. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Environment is the most comprehensive book on the subject available and will prove invaluable not only to SMEs themselves, seeking to understand a rapidly changing world, but to consultants and small-business advisors, local and central government and to all those in academia looking for ways to improve the environmental performance of small businesses.

Over 90% of all firms are SMEs. Their importance to the health of national and international economies is recognised. But what of their environmental impact? "represents the 'state of the art' in what has been a largely neglected field of SME research." Small Enterprise Research, The Journal of SEAANZ
Reviews

This is an excellent guide to the environmental attitudes, impacts and strategies of SMEs. The contributors come from a wide variety of backgrounds and Hillary has cleverly moulded their work into a coherent whole ... This makes a strong claim to be the definitive work on SMEs and the Environment. - Community Affairs Briefing

... should be recommended reading for anyone with an active interest in environmental issues, whether as a policy maker, a planner, or a manager, or those involved in academic research ... the strength of this book is that the experiences documented are of such a high quality. - Journal of Environmental Planning and Management

It is particularly helpful to find a publication that brings together evidence of the practical problems facing small firms and practical advice for those wishing to help them establish a more positive approach to environmental management. - Journal of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health

... an excellent book in a largely neglected subject area. If you're at all interested in the topic, I recommend buying a copy. - Small Enterprise Development

With the increasing scrutiny of regulators, customers and other stakeholders on environmental impact, disregarding concerns of sustainability is no longer an option. The book addresses the defecit of research in the sector and looks at mechanisms for improving SMEs' environmental performance. - European Quality

Why should you read this book? Share in international experience, knowledge and case studies, understand the attitudes of SMEs towards the environment and get insight from practical strategies to reach SMEs. - The Environment Agency (UK)

This book brings together an outstanding international collection of experts from government, international and national support agencies, academics and the business community to present arguments about the key environmental business imperatives facing the small-firm sector. - Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (UK)

... as an environmental advisor who has a deep interest in helping SMEs with environmental issues ... this book is excellent ... I picked up plenty of ideas, experiences, suggestions and material ... This is a good, meaty reference work. - Eagle Bulletin

...this book very much represents the "state of the art" in what has been a largely neglected field of SME research. - Small Enterprise Research, The Journal of SEAANZ

Book Information
ISBN 9781874719229
Author Ruth Hillary
Format Hardback
Page Count 392
Imprint Greenleaf Publishing
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 453g