This report aims to help environmental and other competent authorities in OECD countries to promote
green business practices among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It analyses different ways to
establish environmental regulatory requirements for facilities with low environmental risk (most of which
are SMEs). It also examines how to design and apply information and market-based tools to promote
compliance with such requirements and adoption of cleaner technologies and good environmental
management practices. The report suggests several ways to increase the effectiveness of these promotion
tools with respect to the SME community.
The report addresses the roles of environmental authorities, local governments, business organisations and financial institutions in the greening of small businesses. It reviews in detail the experience of France, Ireland, Korea, the Netherlands and the UK (England and Wales and Scotland) and draws on examples of several other countries.
