Home > Green Issues In SMEs News > Environment 'not a priority' for SMEs

Environment 'not a priority' for SMEs

Published On 23 March 2007 at 11:52:39

The environment is not considered a priority by the owners of many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to new research.

Data gathered by the business coaching firm Shirlaws revealed that SME owners ranked reducing their firm's environmental impact bottom of a list 17 concerns facing their business in the next five years.

Only 6.6 per cent of SMEs ranked environmental improvements in their top five priorities. Similarly, just four per cent said they wanted the environment to be associated with their SME.

"It has to be a concern that this sector of the commercial community is not registering the impact that green issues will have on the future of their businesses," Shirlaws' founder, Darren Shirlaw, told growingbusiness.co.uk.

Mark Riminton, director of Shirlaws, explained to the website that the owner-directors of SMEs did not have the time to think about environmental issues.

"However, we're reaching a stage where this issue will have to go up a business' agenda. But this can bring huge opportunities as well."

The government estimates that the market for environmental goods and services will be worth $548 billion globally by the end of the year.

 

Related Green Issues In SMEs News:

• SMEs 'still not acting to help the environment'
  5 June 2007 at 08:58:42
  Less than half the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK have an environmental policy in place, a trade union has reported.
• SMEs hurt by low-emission zones
  1 June 2007 at 12:22:54
  The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has warned that a number of small businesses may be left with a costly bill after new proposals by London Mayor Ken Livingstone come into force.
• SMEs 'need better facilities to manage waste'
  25 May 2007 at 08:57:29
  Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK are trying to reduce the amount of waste they produce, but there are not enough suitable facilities available to allow them to do so.
• CBI welcomes government proposals on planning laws
  21 May 2007 at 16:42:38
  Business leaders in the UK have reacted positively to a government white paper on planning which proposes to deliver a major overhaul of the UK's infrastructure system.
• Red tape is 'stopping SMEs' green initiatives'
  16 May 2007 at 11:50:52
  Official red tape is preventing many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK from investing in renewable energy sources to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Meters 'would help SMEs cut emissions'
  16 May 2007 at 08:49:46
  An advanced metering system could be used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK to reduce their costs and impact on the environment, a new report suggests.
• Scheme to encourage SMEs to recycle expanded
  18 April 2007 at 12:11:02
  After a series of initial trials further projects will be rolled out across the country to try to encourage the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to recycle, according to reports.