Maltese SMEs among the lowest in offering green products, services

Malta placed among the lowest-ranked EU Member States when it came to SMEs offering green products or services, according to a survey published by the European Commission.
The Flash Eurobarometer is dedicated to SMEs, Resources Efficiency and Green Markets: analysing the important role that small- and medium-sized enterprises play in each of these thematic areas.
In virtually all the countries surveyed, the majority of SMEs do not sell green products or services and do not intend to do so in the next two years.
The highest figures observed in EU Member State countries are Malta (76%), Hungary (76%), Estonia (72%) and the Czech Republic (70%).
Outside the EU, the largest proportions of such SMEs are found in Serbia (75%), Lichtenstein (74%) and Montenegro (71%).
Around a third or more SMEs in Slovenia (36%), Austria (35%), Germany (34%), Demark (33%), Finland (32%) and Sweden (32%) are currently offering green products or services.
The greatest proportion of SMEs intending to offer green products or services in the next two years were observed in Portugal (19%), Greece (18%), Romania (18%) and Cyprus (17%).
In all the countries surveyed but one, the highest proportion of SMEs report they invest up to 5% of their annual turnover in resource efficiency. 70% or more of SMEs in Denmark, France, Ireland, Poland, Latvia and Finland as well as in Norway belong to this group.
The only exception to this pattern is Malta where the largest segment of SMEs replied  'don't know' to the question (49%).
Replying to one of the questions posed to SMEs, why the company does not wish to go beyond environmental legislation requirements, 41% of SMEs in Malta replied by saying that "the costs are seen to outweigh the benefits". Ireland followed by 26%. This was also the most common answer in the US (30%).
However, a fifth of companies in Malta (20%) report that environmental issues are a priority and that they pursue measures exceeding the requirements of legislation.
Lack of information was the most commonly reported reason in Romania  (31%) and Malta (28%). Very high figures for this item are recorded outside the EU in Montenegro (70%), Serbia (61%) and Albania (59%).
Portugal (59%), the UK (53%), Malta (43%), Cyprus (41%) and Hungary (32%) were the countries most often mentioned where recycled material was concerned.
When looking exclusively at SMEs that have at least one employee in a green job, the following was observed: "The largest averages of green jobs in the EU are reported by SMEs located in Austria (8.2), Slovenia (7.4) and Slovakia (7.1).
"High figures are also recorded in Serbia (14.5) and Israel (11.8). The lowest levels of green jobs are seen in Finland (3.0), Italy (2.8) and Malta  (2.5). Outside the EU, the lowest average is found in Albania (3.2)."
Flash Eurobarometers are ad hoc thematical telephone interviews conducted at the request of any service of the European Commission and based on public opinion.
Flash surveys enable the Commission to obtain results relatively quickly and to focus on specific target groups, as and when required.