Does environmental sustainability matter to small and medium enterprises? Empirical evidence from India

Environmental sustainability practices, increasingly evident in big business, are generally lacking in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India. Their place in global supply chains ensures that environmental impacts of large corporations are transferred to SMEs. When such large customers demand environmental management systems from their suppliers, SMEs should respond. The question is whether the environment matters to the SMEs. Based on findings from a study of engineering SMEs in Pune, India, this paper attempts to answer this question. The research explored the incidence of environmental performance within the various stages of the product life cycle. The paper discusses the perceptions of SME owners about the environment and the circumstances in which the environment matters to SMEs. The paper concludes with recommendations based on the findings.