Industrialisation has brought great benefits to humankind but now, after 200 years of fossil fuel use, land clearance and pollution, the planet’s boundaries are being stretched to their limits. Going beyond these confines would have severe consequences for humankind. To prevent this from happening, government, corporate and community initiatives must focus on reducing the environmental impact of approximately 400 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), given that they produce approximately 70% of the world’s pollution, 60% of carbon emissions and have a significant impact on land. To date, research shows that SMEs have been environmental laggards and more needs to be understood to improve sustainability in the SME sector. Broadening the researcher’s methodological focus, beyond traditional singular approaches, improves knowledge generation and better informs policy and practice. This book paves the way by showing the reader that a mixed method research design is able to provide a deep, diverse and holistic understanding of sustainability and SMEs. Importantly, the book also provides an in-depth mapping of mixed method sustainability and SME research at a regional level. As this book is about environmental sustainability framed in a business context, it will be of interest to researchers, academics, students and those in industry who are enquiring about the environmental sustainability of SMEs.

A study of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their environmental impact. It addresses the attitudes and perceptions of small firms to the environment and sustainability; environmental management in the smaller firm; and practical strategies for reaching SMEs.

In a world facing environmental challenges and socio-economic inequalities, SMEs can drive positive change by integrating sustainability principles into their business practices. This book examines the relationship between sustainability, green management, and SME performance, providing insights, strategies, and case studies to guide SMEs towards a more sustainable future and long-term viability. Drawing from extensive research, the book analyzes the drivers, barriers, and motivations influencing SMEs' adoption of sustainability practices. It offers practical recommendations on overcoming resource constraints, awareness gaps, regulatory complexities, and resistance to change. It explores emerging trends such as digital technologies, circular economy approaches, clean energy transitions, and social innovation and discusses collaboration among SMEs, academia, and government agencies as a crucial factor for innovation and scaling up sustainable practices. Sustainability, Green Management and Performance of SMEs is a comprehensive and practical guide for SMEs seeking to integrate sustainability into their business strategies. It inspires and supports SMEs on their journey towards environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and long-term profitability, thus enabling them to unlock new business opportunities, gain a competitive edge, and secure their future in a changing global economy.

Smaller companies are abundant in the business realm and outnumber large companies by a wide margin. Understanding the inner workings of small businesses offers benefits to the consumers and the economy. The Handbook of Research on Intrapreneurship and Organizational Sustainability in SMEs is a critical scholarly resource that examines the strategies and concepts that will assist small and medium-sized enterprises to achieve competitiveness. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as financial management, corporate sustainability, and organizational culture, this publication is geared towards business managers, professionals, graduate students, and researchers working in the field of smaller-scale business development initiatives.

SMEs need to become more sustainable. To reach such a goal they also need to become more professional in their outlook and approach. In this way they may be able to deal with the instability, complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty of change; and to cope with the ever increasing pressures brought by change. After outlining what is meant by sustainability and professionalism, some strategies for how SME owner/managers might become more professional by focussing on the development of their own, and their employees, so called soft skills are offered. The author draws from a range of theories to support the argument.

Reviews the evolution and theory of Sustainability Footprints e.g. carbon footprint and examines the critical success factors and contributions to small to medium sized enterprises (SME) growth • Assist firms in achieving sustainable growth in four key areas Innovation Impact, Cost Impact, Environmental Impact, and Stakeholder Impact • Identifies the challenges and Critical Success Factors (CSFs) in the use of sustainability footprint methodology within small businesses by the use of case studies • Proposes a strategic model suitable for the deployment of sustainability strategy and initiatives within business

KMUs haben großes Potenzial, die Nachhaltigkeitsleistung der modernen Wirtschaft zu verbessern. Dieses Buch untersucht in drei Studien die Treiber von Nachhaltigkeit in KMUs: Eine qualitative Studie auf individueller Ebene zeigt, wie KMU-Geschäftsführer*innen ihre eigenen nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Identitäten in ihrem Unternehmen verwirklichen und wie sie mit daraus entstehenden Konflikten umgehen. Eine qualitative Studie auf organisationaler Ebene untersucht, ob und wie Sozialkapital die Nachhaltigkeitsaktivitäten von KMUs fördert. Eine Mixed-Methods-Studie auf Netzwerkebene befasst sich mit möglichen Erfolgsfaktoren von interorganisationalen Nachhaltigkeitsnetzwerken hinsichtlich ihrer Relevanz für den Netzwerkerfolg. Das Buch schließt mit einem Vergleich der Ergebnisse über alle Ebenen hinweg, der Forscher*innen und Praktiker*innen einen umfassenden Überblick über die verwendeten Theorien, die wichtigsten Ergebnisse und mögliche Synergien für zukünftige Forschung bietet.