08/12/2023
Last week, I was invited to Brussels as sustainability expert to speak at a summit of SME Connect about the challenges faced by SMEs in the sustainability sector which took place in the European Parliament.
The three challenges I addressed include the difficulty for businesses to use sustainable materials and packaging when competitors do not, causing their products to become more expensive. With the current general inflation, consumers are more attentive to price differences. Regulations and incentives supporting the use of recycled and sustainable materials would be desirable.
There is also significant investment in Green Tech and Green Mobility, making it tough for companies with less innovative sustainable solutions to secure startup capital. In my opinion, any solution that conserves resources should be encouraged.
Last but not least many entrepreneurs in general struggle with high non-wage labor costs, not only in Austria, Germany, France, Luxembourg and other countries of the EU, which limits business growth. For instance, the first 3 employees should be supported in the initial years to facilitate genuine growth.
Thanks to Horst Heitz for the opportunity to share my thoughts at the SME connect summit: “Making it Easier: Ensuring an Inclusive Economy for Small Businesses” in front of parliamentarians and fellow entrepreneurs.
Special thanks to Strive a portfolio of philanthropic programs supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth aimed at helping small businesses, for their support on making this event possible.
