CONTRIBUTION OF SMEs TO DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCP

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a key role in innovation, economic growth, employment creation and the provision of goods and services to underserved communities. Adopting sustainable consumption and production (SCP) as an overarching business strategy can enable SMEs to foster the development and expansion of new markets for innovative products and services. At the same time, SCP offers potential to achieve both cost savings in production processes and price premiums for products and services brought to the marketplace. In this regard, the CSCP developed a strategic paper that explores possible points of intervention to mobilize the potential of SCP among SMEs in a developing country context.

The strategic paper

The strategy paper integrates input from key stakeholders in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe, and presents leading experience with implementing SCP strategies in SMEs at local, regional and international levels. The stakeholder input was drawn from a broad spectrum of interests including SMEs, UN agencies, financial institutions, national governments, development agencies, National Cleaner Production Centres, non-governmental organizations, academics and others. Each stakeholder provided suggestions on the necessary circumstances and actions required to encourage and assist developing country SMEs to pursue SCP strategies. This information was further supported by a desktop research on the current status of SCP in SMEs and key challenges this important business sector faces in adopting SCP strategies.

Background

The strategy document is part of the UNEP project on “Promoting sustainable consumption and production in developing countries for poverty alleviation”. The document aims to provide UNEP with a clear indication of stakeholder opinions on strategic SCP business opportunities for SMEs, implementation and action gaps at the SME level, and gaps connected to access to financing. The document aims to address strategic intervention issues and stresses the need to make SCP both relevant and practical for SMEs.