Hilton, Mark

A report analysing the constituents of successful design. The aim is to identify the barriers to sustainable design approaches - especially at small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) level - and the processes and initiatives that can help companies overcome these barriers.

This report examines the current provision of environmental and sustainable development training in these firms, based on national studies carried out in nine EU Member States which focused on the chemicals, food and drink, and printing sectors. The authors highlight practical opportunities for innovative measures and initiatives, showing how existing training can be made more accessible via new delivery methods such as distance learning and virtual learning.

The aims of the study are to provide an outline of SMEs in their social, economic, and environmental context; a rough determination of SMEs’ needs for education and training relating to the environment and sustainable development; a rough determination of training and information needs of regulatory agencies; and an outline of the provision of education and training from different sources.

The report describes the general situation in the EU, and to a lesser extent the USA and New Zealand (one example), broadly with regard to eco-efficiency, eco-design and more sustainable manufacturing. In doing this it provides a snapshot rather than an exhaustive coverage. Case studies are used to illustrate the range of initiatives under way.

This new work explores the difficulties faced by SMEs, focusing on environmental education and training, both academic and vocational, in the following three industrial sectors: Printing; Food and Drink; and Speciality Chemicals.