Marketing P2–CP to business – past,present, and possible future

For over a decade, organizations involved in promoting pollution prevention/cleaner production (P2–CP) to businesses have been asking business managers to change the way they think. But perhaps the greatest adoption of P2–CP will occur when organizations take advantage of the way business managers already think, using strategies of business-to-business (B2B) marketing. In this paper, we trace the evolution of P2–CP promotion from an Educational Strategy, through a Diffusion Strategy, and finally to the B2B Strategy. We argue that P2–CP adoption can be significantly increased if organizations apply the techniques of companies that make their living from selling innovations to businesses and use the B2B markets to bring P2–CP innovations to businesses.     

The Queensland food eco-efficiency project: reducing risk and improving competitiveness

For the past several years, cleaner production, or what is now commonly referred to as eco-efficiency by the business sector, has been promoted widely, but in a relatively ad-hoc manner. As a consequence, the advantages to industry and society stemming from the uptake of eco-efficiency have been difficult to quantify and assess. This paper details how the Queensland Food Processing Eco-Efficiency Project has attempted to overcome some of these barriers by implementing a two year project focused on: involving and gaining the support of as much of the industry sector as possible; using external expertise, providing the support and technical advice essential to the successful uptake of eco-efficiency by businesses; establishing the key environmental concerns for the industry; identifying realistic eco-efficiency opportunities through site assessments and visits; developing case studies based on quantifiable outcomes; developing tools and resources to enable businesses to successfully implement their own eco-efficiency initiatives; the wide and free distribution of these resources and tools to the entire Queensland industry; follow up workshops and awareness briefings together with the eventual development of a forum to allow effective industry networking to continue.     

环境税征收对小微企业的影响——基于湖南省小微工业企业实证数据分析

基于小微企业的视角,以COD为例,选取污染较为严重的第二产业,以湖南省资水流域邵阳段37家小微企业为样本探讨开征环境税对小微企业的影响.通过对小微企业的污染排放与经济效益进行了对比分析,发现所选取的37家小微企业利税占比为1.09%而污染排放占比高达32.65%,呈现经济效益低而污染物排放高的特征,因此应成为环境税征收需要重点关注对象之一.同时对小微企业污水治理成本进行测算,发现被调查的小微企业的污染治理成本存在行业差距,最高为化工行业2.62元/污染当量,最低是食品加工行业的0.64元/污染当量,平均污水治理成本为1.74元/污染当量.最后考虑排放标准趋严、治理成本提高趋势下,通过设置1.40,1.74,3.48,7.50元/污染当量等4挡税率,探究不同环境税率对于小微企业的影响,调研样本显示：基于污染治理成本设置税率小微企业可以承受,并且提高税率可以显著地减少环境污染.     

Eco-efficiency and SMEs in Nova Scotia,Canada

This paper describes a study undertaken by the Eco-Efficiency Centre of the levels of eco-efficiency demonstrated by small and medium enterprises in Nova Scotia. The history of eco-efficiency is described and several definitions of the term put forward by the many agencies and organizations promoting it are discussed. Emphasis is placed on definitions used in Canada, particularly those of Industry Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. After reviewing a large number of environmental management and eco-efficiency tools, the Centre determined that none of these were appropriate for small businesses in Nova Scotia and opted to develop its own checklist. The study concludes that levels of eco-efficiency are quite low among businesses in different sectors and furthermore, that more work is needed to find appropriate tools for micro and small businesses that can be more widely used.     

Benchmarking to trigger cleaner production in small businesses: drycleaning case study

This paper reports on research that investigated and implemented benchmarking as a trigger for cleaner production in the drycleaning industry in Western Australia and applies this knowledge to the small business sector. The critical success factors for environmental benchmarking are: identifying cleaner production gaps in areas important to the long-term future of the businesses, promoting the drivers to close the performance gaps, and ensuring managers possess the correct skills to close these gaps. The participants accepted the benchmarks as suitable targets and committed their businesses to achieving these targets in their action plans. Economic benefits and maintaining their licence to operate were found to be the important drivers. Program participants on average reduced hazardous waste generation by 48%, perchlorethylene consumption by 30% and improved their energy efficiency by 9%. Furthermore, managers involved in the program had a significantly higher uptake of cleaner production than the general small business community in Western Australia.     

Business frameworks for sustainable society: a case study on reuse industries in Japan

This paper presents a new perspective on the reuse businesses of independent reuse business companies (IRBCs) in Japan. A majority of previous studies on reuse and remanufacturing have focused on the businesses of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). During the past twenty years, however, in Japan, IRBCs have grown rapidly, especially those that launched new types of secondhand shops. The author proposes that the reuse businesses of IRBCs can provide useful information for academics, OEMs, and policy makers. A key finding is the strategies developed by IRBCs to ensure the volume of used products collected and to stimulate demand for used products. This paper compares the features of IRBC reuse businesses with those of OEMs, and discussed the results and implications of an interview survey with select IRBCs.     

Awareness and adoption of cleaner production in small to medium-sized businesses in the Geelong region,Victoria, Australia

A survey was undertaken (August through November, 1998) to determine the extent of the awareness and implementation of cleaner production practices within small to medium-sized businesses in the Geelong region of Victoria, Australia. Information was also gleaned on improvements/benefits gained from the adoption of such practices, reasons for adopting or not adopting cleaner production methods and utilization of educational and assistance schemes. We conclude that the adoption of cleaner production by such businesses is still at a very early stage with much work to be done to raise levels of awareness and to convince these businesses of the potential benefits of cleaner production.     

Local agenda 21; articulating the meaning of sustainable development at the level of the individual enterprise

While there are examples of good practice the engagement of business in Local Agenda 21 has been restricted. This is certainly true in the UK experience. ‘Missing’ the supply side of the economy in this way is clearly unsatisfactory. This problem has been addressed by the Centre for Sustainable Development from a particular perspective, which follows the multi stakeholder principles of sustainable development (SD). This paper analyses a project to make a simple clear communication tool, without jargon, to communicate the meaning of SD in different dimensions to small and medium sized businesses. The project produced a business workbook directly useful to business and that can be utilised by local authorities in the business interaction parts of their Local Agenda 21 programmes. The paper examines further what is involved in a particular aspect of the process of SD, in the regional context, and seeks to underpin the understanding that SD is a process. As part of this issues relevant to culture change are examined. A consideration of the stakeholder relationships and dynamics is central.     

Fostering sustainability through sourcing from small businesses: public sector perspectives

This article examines the opportunities for fostering sustainable development through public sector sourcing from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Buying from small businesses can make such contributions in a variety of forms, ranging from a contribution to local economic development through providing innovative green products and services, particularly in the food sector, to helping the public sector organisation to better align its operations with its community. Sourcing from small businesses also has implications for the governance of sourcing processes and can benefit from a partnership approach. Barriers to public sector sourcing from small businesses are discussed and suggestions made on how these can be overcome.     

Drivers and barriers to engage enterprises in environmental management initiatives in Suzhou Industrial Park, China

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in sustainable development not only for their significant contribution to China’s economy, but also for their large share of total discharged pollutants. Therefore, this research takes the enterprises in Suzhou Industrial Park, China as the case study to investigate the environmental management practices of SMEs, and identify drivers and barriers to engaging businesses in environmental management initiatives. It is shown that, as in other countries, SMEs are less active in adopting environmental management initiatives than larger companies. Legislation remains the key driver to engage SMEs in environmental management initiatives. Based on the analysis, policy recommendations are also presented.     

The natural advantage of regions: linking sustainability,innovation, and regional development in Australia

The combined impacts of the financial crisis and climate change are driving the evolution of sustainable business and changing the way that governments plan for development. Markets are emerging for a range of environmentally orientated products and services as societies move (or lurch) towards reducing impacts and adapt to changing conditions. National governments are actively formulating policy and providing investment to develop green economies as one of the responses to the global financial crisis. Many of the political and economic drivers have been focused at the international and national scale, and while critical for setting the national framework for development, it often neglects the key role that regions and localities can play in ecological modernization. This paper explores two regional case studies in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, that are initiating shifts towards networks of sustainable businesses and communities and offers recommendations for further policy development. The focus of this paper is on the evolving regional sustainability market and its relationship to other social institutions including governments, communities and the individual. The unifying concept is the idea of the ‘natural advantage’, a model that integrates innovation and sustainability as a part of the regional development policy agenda.     

Product-service systems for office furniture: barriers and opportunities on the European market

The environmental problems associated with office furniture consumption call for a more efficient use of office furniture that can decrease emissions and volume of waste. The author discusses the opportunities and barriers for the implementation of a PSS for office furniture. In addition, the paper identifies possibilities to overcome these barriers. The article is based on interviews with European office furniture producers, customers and experts that were confronted with a PSS scenario that was developed based on literature. The author concludes that the practical implementation of the developed PSS scenario will probably not lead to much success under the current market conditions and suggests how the PSS scenario can be adjusted to offer environmental benefits and to provide alternative business models to producers.     

The role of business in sustainable consumption

This paper explores the role of the business community in promoting sustainable consumption. While businesses play an important role in shaping social trends, including the growth of material consumption, allegations that individual corporations wield excessive power may have been overstated. Most of the time corporations are simply playing by the rules and culture of the market.Businesses have mostly assumed that their contribution to sustainability lies in improving eco-efficiency—staying within the current business framework. But sustainable consumption will require wider change, including shifts in the incentives that shape the actions of businesses and others, and a change in the culture that underlies market expectations. Firms, governments, the media and civil society may need to enter a dialogue together to develop a new story about the nature of prosperity and the role of the business community in promoting it. The initiative is most likely to come from civil society.     

Developing biofuels industry in small economies: Policy experiences and lessons from the caribbean basin initiative

With increasing concerns about rising energy demand and cost, diminishing oil reserves, and climate change, Central American and Caribbean (CAC) nations have the opportunity to become producers of low-carbon sustainable biofuels for domestic consumption and foreign exchange earnings. While the region has a number of comparative advantages for developing a vibrant biofuels sector, including favorable climate and significant agricultural experience, the experience under the favorable Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) has exposed significant technical and non-technical barriers that must be overcome. Using information compiled through interviews with industry executives, government policy makers and civil society stakeholders, we provide a critical analysis of this experience focusing on non-technical barriers to investment. Survey results suggest that political uncertainty, poor regulatory frameworks, and lack of institutional commitment and business incentives are the main non-technical barriers. Having laid out the challenges, we propose potential policy positions to stimulate growth of the regional biofuels sector. Results point to the need to prioritize enhancing national legislation, developing risk prevention plans, creating supply and demand side incentives and increasing multilateral collaboration. While these findings are derived from the Caribbean Basin experience, they may also be applicable to small economies in other regions that are considering policies for biofuels industry development.     

Advancing Towards a Hydrogen Energy Economy: Status,Opportunities and Barriers

Performance reliability advances and cost reductions have been achieved with hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in both the transportation and distributed energy sectors. This paper reviews the status of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, identifies key business and policy drivers for the hydrogen economy, critically examines key barriers to implementing the hydrogen economy, identifies and discusses key national initiatives to advance the hydrogen economy, and identifies and discusses key intergovernmental initiatives and activities to advance the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen and fuel cell technology advances, coupled with a reduction in costs and improvements in performance reliability, present new opportunities for developed and developing countries to achieve energy, economic and environmental security. Substantial national research and development investments in hydrogen production, storage, transport, end-use technologies (e.g., fuel cells), safety and public education underscore future opportunities. Intergovernmental bodies such as Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) provide a multilateral framework for development of a global hydrogen economy. While the pathway forward for the hydrogen economy is precarious alternative energy options offer substantially fewer public benefits.     

Potential economic impact of introduction and spread of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, in Hawaii

Globally, many invasive alien species have caused extensive ecological and economic damage from either accidental or intentional introduction. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, has created billions of dollars in costs annually, spreading as an invasive species across the southern United States. In 1998, the red imported fire ant spread into California creating a highly probable future introduction via shipped products to Hawaii. This paper presents the estimation of potential economic impacts of the red imported fire ant (RIFA) to the state of Hawaii. Evaluation of impacts focuses on the economic sectors of (1) households, (2) agriculture (cattle and crop production), (3) infrastructure (cemeteries, churches, cities, electrical, telephone, and cable services, highways, hospitals and schools), (4) recreation, tourism and business (hotels/resort areas, golf courses, commercial businesses and tourists), and (5) government expenditures (with minimal intervention). The full annual economic costs of the red imported fire ant to Hawaii are estimated (in US$ 2006) to be $211 million/year, comprised of $77 million in damages and expenditures and $134 million in foregone outdoor opportunities to households and tourists. The present value of the projected costs of RIFA over a 20-year period after introduction total $2.5 billion. RIFA invasions across the globe indicate that economic cost-effective action in Hawaii entails implementation of prevention, early detection and rapid response treatment programs for RIFA.     

Definitions and organizational practice of sustainability in the for-profit sector of Nova Scotia

The term “sustainability” has been a part of local, national, and international environmental discussions for well over a decade. First legitimized by the United Nations in 1987 with the release of the Brundtland Commission and Our Common Future (WCED, 1987), the term “sustainability” is now often used in more mainstream contexts. However, given our continued global ecological decline (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005), the question remains: do decision makers within organizations really have a clear idea of what sustainability is? Further, are they able to communicate that vision in such a way as it can be operationalized within their organizations?Organizations are faced with a high degree of uncertainty when attempting to move towards sustainability. The immense amount of literature and information available about the concept is daunting, especially for harried managers of small businesses who must respond to many competing needs and interests. Although many concepts, frameworks, and tools are available for business executives to use, there have been relatively less attempts to develop a rigorous, applied definition of sustainability that can be clearly understood, implemented, and measured within and across organizations. Given the abundance of concepts, frameworks, and tools, with the corresponding dearth of overarching frameworks, one may wonder what are executives learning from all this literature, and how it is being diffused into strategy, planning, and operations? This study aims to gain insight into executives’ thinking around definitions and the implementation of sustainability practices in Nova Scotia. The findings of this study indicate that there are three key relationships of significance in this area including: type of definition and ease of articulation; type of definition and type of experience; and type of definition, type of experience, and integration of strategic and operational planning.     

Business value of toxics reduction and pollution prevention planning

As part of Ontario's Toxics Reduction Strategy, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment provided funding for two years to a partnership of the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) to deliver a Cleaner and Greener Manufacturing Program, which will include the development and delivery of training and technical assistance programs on toxics reduction and pollution prevention (P2). Over the next two years, OCETA and CME will be working with small-to-medium sized manufacturers to demonstrate the business value of toxics reduction and pollution prevention planning to help motivate businesses to move into a greener economy.     

Promoting energy efficiency financing and ESCOs in developing countries: experiences from Korean ESCO business

Promotion of ESCO business is one way of increasing energy efficiency. However, it has a lot of barriers and challenges to be successful. The Korean case is a good example to show the reason why economically viable energy savings measures cannot be implemented and how this can be corrected. Although financing is essential for promoting energy efficiency investment and ESCO business, it is not the most crucial barrier to overcome. Along with a financial barrier, an institutional barrier should also be lifted for energy efficiency investment. In this regard, the role of government as a market creator as well as a rule setter through removing barriers and mobilizing necessary capital needs to be emphasized.