CSR and the Emissions Trading Directive

"The importance of encouraging sustainability among SMEs should be recognised for a number of reasons," FOI Council member and FOI Environment Committee chairman Godwin C. Micallef said at a seminar organised by the Cleaner Technology Centre and the University's Faculty of Law.

"As a general rule, the smaller the firm, the lower the attention to environmental issues. As a result SMEs tend to be a significant source of pollution. (However) its wider application in SMEs, including micro-businesses, is of major importance, given that they are the greatest contributors to the economy and employment."

The FOI official continued by referring to the guide issued by the EU as part of the pan-European awareness-raising campaign on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); as well as the World Commission on Environment and Development, the 'Global Impact' initiative launched by the United Nations, and the Lisbon Agenda

When explaining the improved perceptions of business operators towards their environmental responsibility, Mr Micallef stated: "A growing number of firms, even in Malta, have also chosen to go above and beyond legal requirements by engaging in recycling and abatement activities that further minimise waste and thus reduce environmental degradation.

"Corporate Environmental Responsibility has manifested itself in several forms. Many firms have adopted voluntary environmental management systems, such as EMAS and ISO 14001. A number of companies indicate that these activities can result in better performance and can generate more profits and growth."

Mr Micallef then turned to the environment responsibilities of Government entities and entities other than private sector business operators, and stressed: "Corporate Environmental Responsibility and the environment is not only the realm of business entities.

"What about parastatal companies, public corporations, government departments, local councils and, in Malta's case, a company controlled by a major union? I regret to say that most government departments or controlled entities do not even separate their office waste.

"What about Government tenders? Do they stipulate green purchasing? Are corporate environmental responsible companies preferred? The answer is regrettably... no."

After highlighting the importance of public authorities adopting the EU issued handbook on environmental public procurement and the findings of the EU co-funded research project 'RELIEF', Mr Micallef continued to ask: "Why do local councils refuse to split their waste collection tenders into domestic and commercial waste?

"Why do some of the councils give the waste management fee also to the same waste contractor? I am afraid the answer is another question. Why bother?"

He then referred to the exorbitant charges at the Malta ports and encouraged the union's controlled company Cargo Handling Co. and the port authorities in a corporate environmental responsible way to waive the charges on containers containing recycled material and waste for export.