Small Business Engagement with Sustainability in Regional Australia

This research investigates the extent of social and environmental responsibility in small businesses which operate in Northern New South Wales, and the relationship between the level of social and environmental responsibility and business success. Results from this study enable comparison with Besser’s (1999) study in the northern American State of Iowa which identified a relationship between success of small business and their operators’ level of community involvement, as well as UK research which reports minimal evidence of environmental responsibility within small business. This research draws on a stratified random sample of 195 small business owners and managers in 10 communities within the Far North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The survey adapted Besser’s (1999) scales to include measures of both social and environmental responsibility which is compared to a self assessment of business success. Results from this research were contrary to Besser’s findings and more consistent with similar studies of UK small businesses which displayed low levels of socially and environmentally responsible actions.