Author: Katarina ŽELEZNIK LOGAR
Type of paper: Professional paper
Issue: Volume 4 | number 1 – 2010
Photo: r8enviro.com
Abstract: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in many economies around the world and are vitally important for a health dynamic market economy. Collectively, SMEs also cause significant impacts on the environment by their activities, products and services. The present situation, when SMEs are unaware of their environmental impact, can pose an important threat not only to the environment but also can have a negative effect on worker’s health and safety. The main research questions of our study were: do entrepreneurs performing craft activities, have the necessary knowledge to carry out their waste management activities and environmental performance in general, and what possibilities for better waste treatment, waste minimization and reduction can be offered to SMEs and how? The results supported this hypothesis are that the level of knowledge about their responsibilities according to the regulations among many SMEs is still low. In the future, it will be crucialthat public authorities and other key players support SMEs in increasing their efforts for improvement.
