CleanBiz Scholarship evaluates businesses preparedness for sustainability

26/02/2009

The first recipient of the CleanBiz honours scholarship has finished her research at the University of Tasmania and found many Tasmanian small to medium enterprises are operating at the lowest level on the sustainable development journey.

Kathryn McLeod was awarded the inaugural $7500 CleanBiz 2008 honours scholarship for sustainability in business. The CleanBiz honours scholarship is awarded to a science graduate to investigate ways to assist Tasmanian enterprises in their quest to become more sustainable.

Kathryn graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Geography and Environmental Studies, and Zoology. Her honours project examined the preparedness for, and practice of, sustainability in a selection of Tasmanian small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

Looking back on her research, Kathryn says it was encouraging that the bulk of SMEs involved in her business survey correctly recognised sustainability as a multi-faceted concept involving (at least) economic, social and environmental dimensions.

"I've found that many SMEs interviewed as part of my thesis were aware of the importance of sustainability; but the majority (around 78%) were still operating at the lowest level on the sustainable development journey," Kathryn says.

"The lowest level is compliance, which is seen as a reactive approach involving minimal commitment-that is complying with existing regulations and avoiding liabilities."

"Many of these SMEs feel their ability to improve their sustainability performance is limited due to barriers such as cost and access to knowledge."

Kathryn says her research included a survey made up of five sections.

"The sections included attitudes, business practices and resource use, staff development, marketing and barriers relating to business sustainability. In terms of water, energy and waste, waste recycling or reuse was the most common business practice undertaken by respondent SMEs to improve their sustainability performance. Minimising energy use was also a common proactive measure carried out by businesses."

"I hope my study can be used to help spur ideas for more research on a larger scale. Further research is required to develop detailed business strategies that will allow Tasmanian SMEs to achieve higher levels of sustainability."

Kathryn says she appreciated the opportunity to undertake an honours project in an area of direct interest and that her immediate aim is to secure a job in Tasmania.

The University of Tasmania's School of Geography and Environmental Studies administered and supervised the CleanBiz scholarship.

Damien Blackwell is an Industry Liaison Officer for CleanBiz - a State Government funded sustainability program that helps Tasmanian enterprises add business value and reduce environmental impacts by adopting more resource efficient practices.

"It's great that Kathryn has performed so well. Her research tends to confirm our direct experience working with a range of Tasmanian SMEs-that many are keen to improve their sustainability credentials but for various reasons have difficulty doing so."

"Kathryn's research suggests there's much more that government and corporate Tasmania can do to facilitate better sustainability outcomes for Tasmanian SMEs and their communities."

"I congratulate Kathryn for attaining her honours degree and wish her well in the Tasmanian job market."

CleanBiz focuses on helping small and medium sized enterprises, across all industry sectors, achieve greater levels of sustainability performance. More than 80 Tasmanian enterprises are now registered with the program. For more information about CleanBiz visit www.environment.tas.gov.au/cleanbiz