Barriers to Successful Implementation of Sustainable Practices in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

Abstract

SMEs are important players in the economic development of any country. The SMEs are found to be more efficient in providing more employment opportunities at relatively lower cost. The employment intensity of SMEs is estimated to be four times greater than that of large enterprises. Manufacturing firms consume a lot of resources, which raise serious concerns regarding sustainability of those resources. With increasing environmental concerns and globalization, SMEs now face the challenge of abandoning the traditional practices and adopting new sustainable practices. This paper tries to identify some of the barriers to successful implementation of these practices by SMEs.