Original title: How are European small enterprises dealing with the circular economy?
Researchers grouped European small businesses by their business traits and environmental actions. They found three broad patterns: firms that focus on saving energy and reducing waste, firms that do less, and a more active but varied group. Across all three, complicated rules and paperwork were the main barrier, with costs also a problem. The businesses most wanted grants, cooperation with other firms, and expert advice.
Imagine a group of neighbors trying to cut household waste and energy use. Some already make many changes, some do very little, and others focus on a few practical steps. Even when people want to improve, confusing forms and high costs can get in the way. In this paper, the neighbors stand for European small businesses, their different habits form three groups, and the paperwork and costs are the obstacles they report.
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up a substantial share of European firms’ emissions, so their choices affect environmental progress. The findings point policymakers toward practical support: simpler procedures, financial aid, cooperation between businesses, and advice.
The abstract reports patterns from a survey and groups businesses by their characteristics and actions; it does not establish why firms choose particular actions or whether the requested support would cause them to adopt more sustainable practices. It also does not report the effectiveness of specific policies.
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How are European small enterprises dealing with the circular economy? — María Pilar García-Alcober, Ana Isabel Mateos-Ansótegui, María Teresa Pastor Gosálbez et al. — Open Research Europe — doi:10.12688/openreseurope.23303.2
Abstract licence: CC BY
Explanation generated by Synthesis from the abstract — it is not the original paper.