The European Union has launched the report FUTURE BRIEF: Eco-innovation in SMEs, which contains key points to consider for SMEs in their process towards eco-innovation.
The adoption of certain measures aimed at eco-innovation are difficult for the vast majority of SMEs, which indicates that eco-innovation is beyond their financial, technical and logistical capabilities that they can afford.
Nowadays, there are more than 20 million SMEs in Europe which end up producing a worrying environmental footprint. A study conducted in 2010 showed that SMEs are responsible for 64% of the environmental impact of European companies.
But despite of this, the numerous reports that are published have major information gaps, particularly in areas such as the implementation of concrete actions, lack of knowledge of financial incentives, training or support programs to implement eco-innovations, and especially difficulties in assessing the later cost and benefits.
This report is a step forward towards addressing all these shortcomings. It presents some of the latest research that helps to provide concrete measures for SMEs.
- Acting on the main drivers.
- Overcome their main obstacles.
- Innovate to achieve more sustainable and resource-efficient business activity that is also environmentally friendly.