A Unified Sustainability Index Framework for Small and Medium Enterprises

Project Information

UNIFORM

Grant agreement ID: 788692

DOI

10.3030/788692

Project closed

EC signature date 19 March 2018

Start date 1 September 2018

End date 31 August 2020

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 183 454,80

EU contribution

€ 183 454,80

Coordinated by

ASTON UNIVERSITY
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - UNIFORM (A Unified Sustainability Index Framework for Small and Medium Enterprises)

Reporting period: 2018-09-01 to 2020-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Although the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to economic growth is beyond doubt, they collectively affect the environment and society negatively. Therefore, making SMEs sustainable is one of the most daunting tasks for both policy makers and SME owners/managers. Project [UNIFORM] aimed to develop sustainable managerial policies in the sector of SMEs and to make environmental management a core activity that European SMEs will need to engage in. The conducted research can be useful to both the individual European SME through the proposed statistical tools that can be used for the assessment of the current state of sustainability performance in the company and for further improving the latter performance, and to the policy makers by utilizing the empirical verified hypotheses of sustainability associations in order to implement sustainability improvement policies at a regional or country-level.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Explanation of the work carried out
In the first half of the project, the fellow has worked on collecting information regarding the sustainability practices and performance of European SMEs, by collecting both quantitative and qualitative data within the EU. Information was collected through in-depth interviews with owners and top managers of the SMEs. A total number of 12 face-to-face in depth interviews were collected through this procedure from the selected SMEs [selected SMEs included BBHS A/S (Denmark), KRAUS SA, (Austria), Evritika Kellaria SA (Greece), E & S W Knowles & Co. Ltd (UK)]. In addition, [UNIFORM] has collected a rich dataset using a structured questionnaire from around 400 SMEs in four European countries (Greece, France, Spain and the UK). In the second half of the project, the fellow utilized both quantitative and qualitative data collected from European SMEs to further develop sustainable supply chain performance measurement model for SMEs.
Results in brief
As a result of the collected information, a case study research paper was developed [1], collecting and presenting valuable information regarding how European SMEs deal with sustainability strategies. In [2], we developed an innovative sustainable supply chain performance measurement model for SMEs. In another study [3],we further develop a sustainability performance tool for individual European SMEs by combining structural equation modeling with data envelopment analysis (DEA). Further research conducted within the scope of the [UNIFORM] project involved the investigation of new associations between sustainability performance of SMEs and circular economy (CE) ([4]) (Figure 1).
[FIGURE 1 HERE]
Further theoretical investigation and practical verifications included the examinations of theoretical frameworks associating lean management practices (LMP) and sustainability-oriented innovation (SOI) with sustainability performance ([5]) (Figure 2).
[FIGURE 2 HERE]
Finally, an analytical and critical review regarding the up to date research conducted on the research topic of sustainability modeling for small and medium sized enterprises was undertaken by the fellow and collaborators in the project ([6]). Ongoing research within the frames of [UNIFORM] includes further conceptualized theoretical models that are empirically examined for their validity ([7]). (Figure 3).
[FIGURE 3 HERE]
More complex models and theoretical approaches are also investigated ([8]) (Figure 4).
[FIGURE 4 HERE]
More recent research ([9]), examines ways through which small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) of the European Union (EU) may achieve higher sustainability performance via the implementation of tenets of circular economy (CE).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Progress of the activities
The knowledge generated by the current project can give policy makers an empirical based understanding of the complex associations between the various sub-constructs of sustainability and further associations with other paradigms such as circular economy.
At the individual SME level, the obtained results may be utilized by European SMEs in a twofold way; firstly, the sustainability index measurements derived by the proposed tools could provide SMEs’ owners and managers with an assessment of their company as regards the current levels of sustainability practices and performance.
Details on the (non-scientific) management activities of the project
The Fellow of this project has been involved in all management aspects of the fellowship, with the assist of the project coordinator and host institution. The aim of [UNIFORM] was to develop synergies and reinforce collaboration between institutions within the EU. This task was successfully achieved since that the Fellow has established collaborations with researchers in Universities and Institutions in the UK, France, Denmark, Austria and Greece, that will lead to further collaborations in the future.
DISSEMINATION MEASURES
Impact: All obtained results reached by the [UNIFORM] project have a high probability of reaching the public and academic institutions and create impacts through the following dissemination venues:
Media and channels-[UNIFORM] website: The project's website acted as a hub for the project, both internally and externally.
Social media: The project made use of social media, such as twitter and Researchgate to enhance dissemination of the project’s results.
Dissemination to the general public: Regarding the dissemination to the general public, all partners exploited their channels for disseminating the work done in “UNIFORM”, to a broad audience.
Update of the plan for exploitation and dissemination of results
The main objectives of the project were achieved, with minor adjustments from the initial proposal due to COVID 19 pandemic and restrictions in movement during the last stages of the [UNIFORM] project. Taking into account all the above and the transfer of knowledge activities, the record of publications, the milestones and the deliverables produced, the overall main objectives of the project were achieved.
Deviations from Annex 1 and Annex 2
There are no deviations from Annex 1 and Annex 2.
References
[1] Sustainability practices and performance in European SMEs: Insights from multiple case studies, 2020 (under preparation)
[2] Supply chain sustainability performance measurement of SMEs using structural equation modeling. Annals of Operations Research, 2018, DOI: 10.1007/s10479-018-3080-z
[3] Performance Management of Supply Chain Sustainability in SMEs Using a Combined SEM and DEA. Computational Economics, 2019, DOI: 10.1007/s10614-019-09948-1
[4] Circular Economy to Enhance Sustainability of SMEs. Business Strategy and the Environment, 2020, doi.org/10.1002/bse.2492
[5] The impact of LMP and SOI on sustainability performance of SMEs: Empirical evidence from the UK. British Journal of Management, 2019, DOI: 10.1111/1467-8551.12388
[6] Sustainability Performance Analysis of SMEs: Variables and Methods. Socio-economic Planning Sciences, 2020
[7] Drivers’ and barriers’ relative contribution to sustainability practices and performance of SMEs: Evidence from an empirical study in SMEs from 4 European countries. Presented in: MIRDEC-15th Conference, Barcelona, Spain, Nov. 2019.
[8] Responsible procurement and circular economy for supply chain sustainability in SMEs: Evidence from EU Countries. Under preparation
[9] Circular Economy Via the Closed Loop Supply Chain in SMEs in the EU. Submitted in IJPE

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