Project

It happens commonly, that even small changes in everyday business procedures such as a change of contract terms with the suppliers (for example with energy suppliers) can cause the reduction of a product consumption, while maintaining the same level of service or the product quality . This means that environmental activities can be  cost effective and for that we want to convince Polish companies from the SME sector.

Pro-ecological activities are one of the priorities of European Commission, that in 2008 set ambitious goals:

• reducing greenhouse gas emission by 20%;
• reducing energy consumption by 20 %;
• increasing the level of using renewable energy by 20%.

These objectives are to be achieved by the year 2020 and their successful implementation needs involvement of all kind of enterprises, in particular SMEs.

The study confirmed, that the awareness of the environmental impact of water, electricity, gas and other products‘ consumption in Polish small and medium-sized enterprises is very low. The aim of our project is to provide solutions for Polish entrepreneurs and to convince them, that environmental protection can be profitable.

By the issues related to the implementation of pro-ecological solutions, we want to inspire managers and employees of 3,000 companies. Our activities will be mainly addressed to companies within 6 sectors of industry: construction, timber, automotive, printing, personal services (hairdressing, beauty services) and food industry. We believe that by showing how to protect the environment and what effects can be  induced by even a small change in our daily business routine, we will encourage people to develop a pro-environmental attitude. We want to achieve the following results during the project implementation:

1. Reducing the level of consumption of selected resources by 10% in minimum 100 companies, due to the implementation of a monitoring system as well as the implementation of necessary organizational and technical changes.
2. Preparing 500 companies to be able to  indicate examples of wastage in their companies as well as to propose the ideas of savings in the proces of managing resources.
3. Increasing awareness among 3000 companies from the SMEs sector of economic and environmental benefits of economical resources management.
4. Increasing the society awareness (10 000 firms and individuals) of an impact  even one person may have  on reducing the consumption of resources, while collecting and presenting examples of good practices.
5. Increasing the level of public awareness of a really exsisting need totake actions  towards efficient use of resources through the cooperation  with  social partners and research organizations.

The analysis of consumption of selected resources in the companies taking part in the project (17% of SMEs) shows that they consume: 89 million m3 of water, 12 million MW of power, 89 000 tons of paper, including 65 thousand of tons of paper for the purpose of administration and 5 million m³ of wood per year. Only the process of paper production is up to 185 thousand tonnes of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere.

And what is the awareness of these companies‘ impact on environmental pollution?

There are only 1.8% of industrial companies in SMEs sector indicating that their activities have "high" or "very high" impact on the environment. In general, they acknowledge the impact of energy consumption (38.5 %) and waste for disposal (21.8 %). They almost do not notice their impact on the environment through the consumption of water (9.5 %) or natural resources (2.9%).

The results of this study show that employees' awareness of the SME sector in relation to the impact they have on the environment is extremely low. That confirms our belief, that the implementation of projects such as "3xEnvironment" project aimed at this sector is extremely needed.

1. Educational campaign is addressed to chosen 500 companies and should bring  development and implementation of  projects positively affecting the environment through optimal use of resources. The campaign includes organisation of workshops dedicated to specific industries, while taking into account their characteristics. Our experts and trainers will work along with employees of the companies, looking for the most optimal solutions. In  hundred companies constant monitoring of consumption of selected resources such as electricity, water, paper, wood , fluids (car companies) will be carried out. The analysis of the data collected will help us to determine the most effective ways of implementing savings in companies, as well as proecological activities.
2. Informational campaign is addressed to 3000 entrepreneurs associated within the Polish Craft Association. Its main purpose is to provide information about the possibilities of an impact of business onto the environment, and through the examples of effective use of resources, to encourage the implementation of concrete solutions.
3. Disseminating campaign is addressed to companies‘ surroundings: SME’s, business institutions, local government and government agencies as well as private individuals. Its task is to create a positive image of companies, who care about natural resources as well as supporting these kind of activities.

Ecological package, as a guide of environmental activities in the company, is an innovative multimedia tool for project participants. It includes training materials, a manual, an ecological handbook, tools for savings‘ calculation and a database of best practices.

„3xEnvironment" project, meaning "Three campaigns integrating the business of SMEs sector and their surroundings in efforts to protect the environment" is co-financed by the financial instrument of European Union LIFE + and the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.