The Importance of Implementing SDGs by Small and Medium Size Enterprises: Evidence from Germany and Poland

Ralph Sonntag, Gerard J. Lewis and Andrzej Raszkowski ()
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Ralph Sonntag: Faculty of Business Administration, University of Applied Sciences Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
Gerard J. Lewis: Faculty of Business Administration, University of Applied Sciences Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany
Andrzej Raszkowski: Department of Regional Economy, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Nowowiejska 3, 58-500 Jelenia Góra, Poland

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-14

Abstract: This study addresses the problems attributed to the implementation process of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in relation to the SME sector in Germany and Poland. The initial part of this study discusses the theoretical aspects of sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including 17 SDGs. The importance of the contribution made by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to the development of today’s economies, based on the example of OECD countries, was also highlighted. Regarding methodology, to answer the research questions, empirical data were obtained using a simplified online questionnaire based on a pre-established questionnaire. The target group consisted of experts on SMEs, not the SMEs themselves, in order to obtain an external view of the SME sector. As part of the general conclusions, it can be stated that the current contribution of SMEs to the implementation of the SDGs presents, on average, an upward tendency. Certainly, a greater involvement of entrepreneurs and a better understanding of the specificity of sustainable development processes would be advisable. In addition, it is noticeable that the national context is significant in the implementation of the SDGs. For example, German enterprises pay more attention to the environmental dimension of sustainable development, whereas Polish enterprises pay more attention to supply chain management. Overall, most of the respondents stated that the absence of financial resources remains the primary obstacle to the implementation of sustainable development goals in enterprises, while motivation results from cost reduction and increase in turnover.

Keywords: sustainable development goals (SDGs); SMEs; OECD; Agenda 2030; survey; sustainable development; strategy; Poland; Germany (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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