Brussels, 17/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - European SMEs use resources more efficiently and make a strong contribution to the transition towards a low-carbon economy.
This what comes out of the 2013 Eurobarometer survey on SMEs, energy efficiency and green markets - a survey which was conducted in September on 11,000 SMEs in the EU, EFTA (except Switzerland), the Balkans, Turkey, Israel, and the USA, and which was published by the European Commission on 17 December.
Three key figures illustrate this trend. On the one hand, more than nine out of ten SMEs took at least one measure to optimise their use of resources, and their efforts have been stepped up since 2012. The most frequent measures are minimising waste (67%), saving energy (67%) and saving materials (59%). In addition, at least half of the SMEs also recycle by re-using material or waste, or by saving water (51% in both cases). Finally, 42% of SMEs now have at least one full or part-time green employee (someone who works directly with information, technologies, or materials that preserves or restores environmental quality) - a figure which is up 5% compared with 2012, and which exceeds the objectives set in 2011.
Half (51%) of the European SMEs that operate in green markets offer products and services that have an environmental dimension (such as organic production, eco-labelling or eco-design). Over a third (35%) offer products and services connected with recycling (up by 6% compared with 2012). Construction, food and beverages, and electronic and mechanical machinery and equipment are still the most commonly sold green products and services.
The most efficient use of resources is driven by the pressure of the high (and growing) costs of energy and materials - thus while 93% of SMEs have already taken measures to optimise their use of resources, 80% of SMEs plan additional initiatives in the next two years. Only 28% of SMEs mention that respect for the environment is one of their top priorities. The survey also notes that while 38% of SMEs do not experience any difficulty when trying to set up resource efficiency actions, 26% of them come up against a legal barrier or red tape.
For the European SMEs offering green products or services - the proportion of which remained stable at 26% compared with 2012 (in relation to 34% in the US, and a growing trend), their own country is their main market in terms of annual turnover (91%). The survey shows that the national market remains the main driver for the green SMEs' activity, which is illustrated by two figures - only 20% of them are active on the single market, and 7% target third countries as an important outlet for their products and services.
The survey also reveals that stronger public policy measures could contribute to making SMEs even greener. Indeed, SMEs believe that financial incentives are the most appropriate means of helping them become greener - 34% of SMEs consider that subsidies or grants are the best policy measures to support investment for a better use of resources, and 46% believe that financial incentives for developing products would be the best means of encouraging them to diversify their range of products or services. However, financial incentives are not the only effective policy measures - 25% of SMEs consider it important to have access to advice on improving resource efficiency, and 22% would like to be able to obtain advice on funding possibilities for resource efficiency investments. (EH/transl.fl)