Small and Medium Sized Companies in Europe : Environmental Performance, Competitiveness and Management: International EU Case Studies

The environmental performance of SMEs (Small and Medium Sized Enterprises) is an area of major policy concern. Environmental Performance in Small and Medium Sized Companies reports on factors influencing the environmental performance of SMEs across four European countries: the UK, Ireland, Germany and Italy. While there are a range of factors that are expected to influence the implementation of clean technology, this book focuses on three key hypotheses, namely firm competitiveness, culture and the use and availability of information and advice. In addition, a range of other factors likely to promote or constrain the adoption of clean technology is considered. The report is remarkably realistic because it is based on in-depth interviews in 300 SMEs and an additional postal survey with more than 800 replies. The EU firms surveyed span wide variations in environmental policy stringency, firm capability and markets served