Policies for Material and Energy Efficiency Gains in Small and Medium Enterprises

Resource efficiency and recycling and strategies for sustainable production and consumption need to be further developed throughout Asia. To improve resource efficiency the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that occupy a majority of industrial sectors and contribute a large proportion of Asian gross domestic product must become central actors. This research reviews the role of SMEs in Asia in connection with resource efficiency improvement, and provides insights into why governments need to work with the private sector and local communities to make further advances in resource efficiency. A pattern-matching analysis of 43 examples of good practice from 11 countries reveals a range of factors that are common to success. These include: good supply-chain linkages; industry clusters; producer associations; voluntary agreements through public-private partnerships; good technical support; and the underlying threat of increased regulation if voluntary approaches fail. This paper is part of the series of eight linked papers presented in this special issue of the International Review for Environmental Strategies (IRES).

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International Review for Environmental Strategies: Best Practice on Environmental Policy in Asia and the Pacific
http://pub.iges.or.jp/modules/envirolib/view.php?docid=528