'SMEs and the environment: Two case studies'

This paper reports on two cases conducted as part of a wider study surveying 82 UK based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The wider study evaluated an environmental initiative aimed at SMEs. Purposive sampling has been employed to highlight SMEs that made significant environmental improvements. This process emphasizes the practical issues SMEs face when implementing environmental issues as workable company policies as well as what can realistically be achieved. Without tangible evidence of environmental and financial outcomes from in-depth cases, such initiatives run the risk of appearing to be little more than irrelevant greenwash. Such success stories can help motivate other SMEs. In addition, developers of similar initiatives can gain a better understanding of the factors that contribute to success, including how to engage and maintain SME interest. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.