Source: Natwest
Recent findings from Natwest show the negative impact coronavirus has had on SMEs’ progress towards sustainability. Plans to advance environmentally friendly practices have been hampered by a need to focus instead on recovery from the pandemic. For many companies, this is likely more about survival than focusing on improving profitability.
Using data from IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers Index survey, which was conducted in December 2021, the views of 850 decision-makers at UK businesses were taken into consideration. Sectors represented included manufacturing, retail, construction, hospitality and leisure.
The survey showed that UK SMEs have reduced their focus on sustainability action compared to the levels seen prior to the pandemic. This is despite green policies being found to boost recovery and growth, such as lower prices and enhanced efficiencies. Contrastingly, the bank found that large companies reported a considerable increase in their prioritisation of sustainability action for 2022, further extending the gap between themselves and smaller businesses in terms of progress towards sustainable practices.
Andrew Harrison, Head of Business Banking for NatWest Group, said:
“It’s been a challenging 18 months for UK SMEs, and not surprising, therefore, that the climate agenda has slipped back on the agenda for some small businesses. But it’s important that SMEs know that sustainability measures can boost their recovery, and even fuel their growth, for example, through increasing efficiency, lowering energy bills and by future-proofing their operations.”[i]
In terms of the statistics, 41% of SMEs stated that sustainability action was a high priority in the next 12 months, down by 3 percentage points from the 44% reported in February 2020. This compared with 60% of large companies (up 3 percentage points from 57% prior to the pandemic). When asked what had the biggest influence on SMEs’ efforts to improve environmental sustainability, the survey found that customer expectations were the highest ranked influence. This is positive given recent findings in Deloitte’s 2021 Sustainability and Consumer Behaviour research[ii], which found that sustainability remained a key consideration for consumers in 2021, even with the global pandemic. The study reported that 32% of consumers said they were highly engaged with adopting a more sustainable lifestyle. Further, almost 1 in 3 consumers stated that they had stopped purchasing certain brands or products because they had ethical or sustainability concerns about them.
However, in a more concerning sign, the NatWest study showed a clear divide in the motivation to pursue sustainability plans. When comparing large companies and SMEs, it remained much higher at large firms (51% versus 35% for SMEs).
[i] SME climate focus falls due to pandemic | NatWest Group
[ii] Sustainability & Consumer Behaviour 2021 | Deloitte UK
Lauren has extensive experience as an analyst and market researcher in the digital technology and travel sectors. She has a background in researching and forecasting emerging technologies, with a particular passion for the Videogames and eSports industries. She joined the Critical Information Group as Head of Reports and Market Research at GRC World Forums, and leads the content and data research team at the Zero Carbon Academy. “What drew me to the academy is the opportunity to add content and commentary around sustainability across a wealth of industries and sectors.”
