Research suggests that SMEs are focusing on energy and water reduction as part of their sustainability transition. The research assessed current sustainability practices, priorities and the challenges and enablers of sustainability transition among SMEs in Malta and showed that SMEs are at their initial stages of their journey towards a sustainable progression.
This was highlighted during the 3rd edition of the Sustainability Networking Conference, hosted by the Energy and Water Agency (EWA), with this year’s theme focused on “Building Synergies between Water and Energy for Sustainable Solutions.”
This research examined the impact of EWA’s sustainability support schemes, and subsequently, these results will guide EWA’s future support, with a focus on micro and small businesses, sector-specific innovation, and promoting behavioural change through employee training, knowledge sharing, and expert guidance.
EWA’s long-term goal is to keep on supporting SMEs and large corporations in implementing sustainable operational practices which will significantly lower the environmental footprint whilst also achieving economic benefits.
The study was conducted by Dr Alex Mifsud, Assistant Professor of Responsible and Sustainable Business from Northumbria University Amsterdam and Dr Muhammad Mazhar, Associate Professor of Sustainability and Carbon Management Nottingham Trent University, UK.
As per previous years, this conference is aligned with the LIFE Integrated Project, and this year’s edition focused on four key areas, primarily the energy-water nexus, identifying challenges encountered in the workplace, showcasing solutions through case studies of successful sustainable models, in addition to encourage behavioural change in the workplace.
During her message, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli highlighted that “By building synergies between Energy and Water we unlock efficiencies that conserve resources, reduce environmental impact and enhance resilience in the face of future challenges. The private sector including different industries play a pivotal role in this transition.”
This year’s Sustainability Networking Conference shed light also on Malta Vision 2050: A Focus on Sustainability. Malta Vision 2050 is a national strategic blueprint that outlines the country’s long-term goals for the next 25 years, with a special focus on securing a high quality of life for all.
A diverse panel of both local and foreign speakers were present for this conference including representatives from The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise & Industry, University of Malta, Corinthia Group, Water Services Corporation, Working Town. The speakers shared their insights and knowledge on sustainability achievements from their respective sectors and discussed what could be done to improve the situation in Malta.
During a hands on workshop, participants had the opportunity to ask questions, share their ideas and respective successful models and get involved in the discussion. Through these meaningful discussions, it was reinforced that although there are several challenges, collaboration can lead to a behavioural shift. No matter how small a decision in the workplace may be, if one is committed to sustainability, we can not only be stewards in our workplace but also play a pivotal role in society.
This conference was held in parallel with a long-standing Sustainability Training initiative designed to support government entities and businesses in embedding sustainability into their daily operations. Over the past seven years, this programme has delivered more than 200 hours of training. A total of 55 government entities and companies have taken part, with over 700 participants engaged in this effort to build a more sustainable Malta.
Presentation delivered during this conference can be found following this link.
