The majority of small businesses want to go green to help the environment but don’t know how to, a new survey has found.
Business Network International (BNI) has surveyed 2200 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) throughout New Zealand for their views on their social responsibility.
The survey shows SMEs value community and people-driven initiatives more than responsibility to help curb climate change.
BNI national director Graham Southwell told TV ONE’s AMP Business the small businesses take their social responsibility very seriously.
He said two thirds of respondents believed it is important that they do make a social contribution, and they do this through supporting their staff, local community events and charities.
But he said the survey discovered a “disconnect” in the SMEs’ attitude to environmental responsibilities.
“Three quarters of them felt they should be doing something, but when we asked them to rate what they were actually doing, they were doing very little.”
Southwell said small businesses don’t realise what contribution they could be making to the environment, and government policies are missing the SME section of the market.
“We believe the government doesn’t realise the difference that they are making and therefore policies aren’t reflecting and encouraging SMEs to be more proactive in that area.”
He also said SMEs may underestimate the difference that small businesses do make to the environment.
Southwell agreed that some small firms don’t have the time to introduce environmentally friendly systems because staff in a small enterprise have to wear many different hats.
And the survey found tough times don’t help.
“Forty percent of the respondents felt that in an economic downturn or when going gets tough that they will find it harder to contribute.
“Twenty percent, however, felt that this was non-conditional, that they will be contributing no matter what. But it is hard for small businesses,” he said.
Business Network International expects the survey will “really highlight” the disconnect between SMEs’ desire to help improve the environment, and the little they are doing, Southwell said.
It is the first such survey that’s been carried out and is an academically rigorous survey which will form an academic paper in due course, Southwell said.
