Title: Environmental approach to implement sustainable management: partnership between Transnational Corporations and Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises

Authors: Teodoro Gallucci, Giovanni Lagioia, Vesselina Dimitrova

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, Department of Geographical and Commodity Science, University of Bari, Via C. Rosalba, 53, I 70124, Bari, Italy; Department of International Economic Relations, University of Economics – Varna, 77, Kniaz Boris I blv., 9002 Varna, Bulgaria. ' Faculty of Economics, Department of Geographical and Commodity Science, University of Bari, Via C. Rosalba, 53, I 70124, Bari, Italy; Department of International Economic Relations, University of Economics – Varna, 77, Kniaz Boris I blv., 9002 Varna, Bulgaria. ' Faculty of Economics, Department of Geographical and Commodity Science, University of Bari, Via C. Rosalba, 53, I 70124, Bari, Italy; Department of International Economic Relations, University of Economics – Varna, 77, Kniaz Boris I blv., 9002 Varna, Bulgaria

Abstract: The aim of this research is to show, in a country, catching-up like Bulgaria, how crucial the extension of environmental approach from the Transnational Corporations (TNCs) towards their suppliers is, when they are mainly Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The authors propose the approach of Material Flow Analysis (MFA) for extending sustainable management from TNCs to SMEs. For showing the advantage of MFA, we use the example of one of the most important chemical manufacturing plants in Europe, Solvay Group and its affiliate in Bulgaria Solvay Sodi. We propose concrete suggestions for creating a favourable collaboration between TNCs, SMEs and an external auditing company, for each one of them to benefit from.

Keywords: external auditing; CSR; corporate social responsibility; enterprise development; environmental issues; EMS; environmental management systems; MFA; material flow analysis; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; soda ash manufacturing; sustainable management; TNCs; transnational corporations; TBL; triple bottom line; waste management; sustainability; sustainable development; Bulgaria; chemical manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMED.2009.024233

International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 2009 Vol.6 No.4, pp.419 - 432

Published online: 30 Mar 2009 *

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