Small and medium-sized companies must play their part in achieving energy efficiency, the European Commission has claimed.
European Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Dimas said: “To successfully tackle the environmental challenges we face and to achieve our targets on greenhouse emissions, renewable energy and energy efficiency, all European companies must be on board.
“Small and medium-sized companies are an integral part of Europe's economy and it is therefore vital that they play their part in making the European economy more sustainable.”
A Commission report claimed that many small companies are not aware of the impact their activities have on the environment. Smaller firms also tend to assume they are complying with environmental legislation unless told otherwise, it was suggested.
However, the report stressed that as small and medium-sized firms make up 97% of all EU enterprises, their impact on the environment is significant.
The Commission has now proposed a new Environmental Compliance Assistance programme, which sets out measures to help small and medium-sized businesses minimise their environmental impact.
A website providing information on EU environmental policy is being planned as well as guides on energy efficiency, air emissions, soil and water and waste. A handbook on funding opportunities is also set to be published.
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