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Environment
Report

FUTURE BRIEF: What helps SMEs to eco-innovate? - Issue 22

This Future Brief presents some of the latest evidence on key barriers and drivers of eco-innovation in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

Details

Publication date
6 January 2020
Author
Directorate-General for Environment

Description

What helps SMEs to eco-innovate?
Photo by Bankrx, Shutterstock

How is it possible to become eco-innovative as a small-to-medium enterprise (SME)? What benefits could eco-innovations bring to your company?

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a very important role in Europe’s economy. 'SME' is a vvery broad and diverse category, which encompasses both newly established service providers with just a few employees, and long-established manufacturing firms with large workforces.With eco-innovation also comes a key chance for SMEs to capitalise on their flexible nature and role within the market and position themselves as key providers of increasingly valuable green products and services in coming years. This type of innovation can create a ‘double dividend’, benefitting both businesses and broader society.

Our video presents a case study of a window manufacturer in Slovenia, and the steps they have taken to innovate towards more sustainable, resource-efficient, eco-friendly business. Check out our infographic, which presents barriers – and related solutions – for SMEs in achieving eco-innovation.

Multimedia material:

What helps SMEs to eco-innovate?

Files

15 JUNE 2023
Eco-innovation in SMEs
15 JUNE 2023
Infographic: SMEs could again support for eco-innovation through measures such as