As environmental concerns top the policy agenda globally and locally, and awareness increases among the population, the ideas behind going green in business are increasingly becoming attractive and worthwhile.

In Malta, although individual and fragmented efforts can be found, the discourse andpolicy frameworks to empower enterprises and encourage green business initiatives are not yet well developed.

The concept of green business came about in the wake of increasing concerns of the impact and overall sustainability of economic growth. Malta has been experiencing sustained economic growth over the years. The island’s economic successes, however, are tightly linked to its environment.

Needless to say the role of the environment in our tourism product, the quality of life linked to state of the environment, necessary to attract and retain investment are just two examples of how we need to be considerate of the environmental impact of our economic growth and ensure sustainability for the short, medium and more importantly long term.

It is now evident that we will not be reaching our emission targets, primarily due to our growing dependence on the use of the private car

And in all this, the role of businesses is not minimal. Businesses are major consumers of environmental resources and are responsible for human resources and their activities and behaviour (both socially and environmentally). The number of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Malta amounted to 27,088 in 2015, accounting for 99.8 per cent of the total share of enterprises in the islands. Between them, they employ over 106,000 people (European Commission, 2017). This is no small concern for a small island with very limited resources.

Historically, environmental strategies have focused on large-scale enterprises, resulting in a patchwork approach to promoting and implementing sustainable business practices in the core business of SMEs. There is primarily a misunderstanding of the impact of SMEs on the natural and social environment, with many believing their impact is negligible, or that the (financial) return of going green is marginal. And so there are a number of challenges, including a lack of a best practice framework that explains what sustainable business practices are, particularly among SMEs.

The established principles embedded in tools such as environmental management systems, lifecycle assessments and lean and green thinking, just to pick a few, might not resonate completely with SMEs. This is where maybe research can help in identifying and assessing sustainable or green business practices in the local scene. The assessment in this case must also cover the impact of such measures on the business.

But before suggesting that, there are a number of main themes that dominate the strategies for green businesses. These themes will be the main focus of the contributions on this subject which I hope will raise awareness, but also provide the necessary stimulus for action.

There is certainly ample opportunity for SMEs to invest in energy and water management strategies to reduce their costs as well as their impact on the environment. The local context where energy is predominantly imported and water resources are expensive to produce provides the ideal setting for these strategies to be implemented among SMEs.

Another concern is waste management. The growing waste problems in the islands are clearly visible. From the Magħtab landfill and now the second landfill taking up further precious land, recycling and its management, and the efforts to reduce waste.

Although not considered by many as a green business measure, employee travel and transport activities produce considerable impact on the environment and quality of life (as in time lost in traffic and exposure to harmful emissions). This is critical for Malta as it is now evident that we will not be reaching our emission targets, primarily due to our growing dependence on the use of the private car. Businesses have a major role in adopting measures to counter this effect with impacts within their own company but also outside.

The role of education is overarching. The impact a business can have on educating its employees on the principles of sustainability, which principles are then transferred to families and every day practices, and the role businesses play in leading by example through their actions and educating others on the success of going green, are heavily underestimated among SMEs.

Finally, one must not forget the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Environmental responsibility is increasingly being seen as a pillar of CSR and much of the management literature is converging because of the shared environment, economic and social concerns which businesses experience (Babiak and Trendafilova, 2011). Here too there are opportunities for more discussion, research and ideas.

Prof. Maria Attard is the director of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Malta.