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  • © 2003

Small and Medium Sized Companies in Europe

Environmental Performance, Competitiveness and Management: International EU Case Studies

Authors:

  1. David M. W. N. Hitchens

    1. School of Management and Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK

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  2. Mary Trainor

    1. School of Management and Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK

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  3. Jens Clausen

    1. Institut für Ökologische, Wirtschaftsforschung (IOW), gGmbH, Hannover, Germany

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  4. Samarthia Thankappan

    1. School of Management and Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK

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  5. Bruna Marchi

    1. Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia (I.S.I.G.), Gorizia, Italy

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  • Reports on an investigation of factors that promote and constrain, the adoption of environmenatl initiatives by SMEs

  • Particular consideration is given to the roles of firm competitiveness, management and the business culture, and the importance of information and advisory sources in the take up of environmental initiatives

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XIII
    PDF

  2. Study Background

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 1-10

  3. Method

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 11-23

  4. Industrial Sectors Considered

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 25-35

  5. Furniture Industry

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 37-73

  6. Textile Finishing Industry

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 75-115

  7. Fruit & Vegetable Processing Industry

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 117-159

  8. Sources of Advice (SOA)

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 161-184

  9. Cultural Attitudes

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 185-204

  10. Summary and Conclusions

    • David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna de Marchi
    Pages 205-225

  11. Back Matter

    Pages 227-237
    PDF
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About this book

1. 1 Aims and Objectives The major aim of this research is to identify and weigh the importance of factors that promote and constrain, the adoption of environmental initiatives by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The objective is to inform how policy can overcome obstacles so as to promote the adoption of cleaner technology (includ­ ing environmentally sensitive products (Oosterhuis et al. 1996)) by industry. Cen­ tral to the research is the testing of a set of hypotheses, which, inter alia, relate the adoption of cleaner technologies to competitiveness, management culture and the importance of the provision of information. The manufacturing sectors consid­ ered are those dominated by SMEs where product and process environmental re­ sponse by the firm is important. Of these sectors, furniture, textile finishing, and fruit and vegetable processing were chosen. More specifically the focus is on European SMEs i. e. those employing less than 250 employees. ' Variations within the EU with respect to environmental regulation are exemplified by a study of firms (and plants) across four member states: Germany, North-east Italy, Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. The adoption of clean technologies has been slow and uneven and action has mainly involved good housekeeping. Major changes involving large capital spend­ ing, or material substitution, process redesign or reformulation have been rela­ tively rare (OECD 1985, 1995; Ashford 1993). The problem is particularly acute amongst SMEs (and the majority of enterprises are SMEs; e. g.
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Keywords

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Authors and Affiliations

  • School of Management and Economics, Queen’s University, Belfast, UK

    David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Samarthia Thankappan

  • Institut für Ökologische, Wirtschaftsforschung (IOW), gGmbH, Hannover, Germany

    Jens Clausen

  • Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia (I.S.I.G.), Gorizia, Italy

    Bruna Marchi

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Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Small and Medium Sized Companies in Europe

  • Book Subtitle: Environmental Performance, Competitiveness and Management: International EU Case Studies

  • Authors: David M. W. N. Hitchens, Mary Trainor, Jens Clausen, Samarthia Thankappan, Bruna Marchi

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-09920-9

  • Publisher: Springer Berlin, Heidelberg

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-540-40147-6Published: 29 July 2003

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-642-07275-8Published: 30 November 2010

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-662-09920-9Published: 11 November 2013

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 242

  • Additional Information: Jointly published with Michael Keil (IÖW), Wilfried Konrad (IÖW), and Daniele Ungaro (ISIG)

  • Topics: Environmental Economics, Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice, Environmental Management, Economic Policy, Political Economy/Economic Systems

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Buy it now

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

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