SME executives concerned about the environment

MONTREAL, March 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - The majority of SME executives plan concrete measures in favor of sustainable development according to a question asked for the SME Confidence Index-Fonds de solidarité FTQ . The results of the survey were made public during #mardidd on Twitter, an exchange between Quebec companies about sustainable development.

"It is important to have an overall vision for sustainable development and that vision must include Quebec SMEs, said Mario Tremblay, vice-president for public and corporate affairs at the Fonds de solidarité FTQ. The results made public during #mardidd show that a majority of SME executives are concerned by the environment, but there remains a minority that still needs to be made aware of issues related to sustainable development."

In February 2012, 80% of SME executives planned to put in place concrete measures related to sustainable development within the next 18 months.

The main measures considered by SME executives include putting in place or improving policies for the reduction of documents printed by their enterprise (50%), putting in place or improving recycling policies (45%) and increasing the awareness about the use of energy in the workplace (42%).

The replacement of existing equipment by more energy efficient equipment (28%), increasing employee awareness about the use of disposal utensils (24%) and putting in place financial measures to encourage employee use of public transit and car pooling (9%) are among the other measures being considered by SME executives.

11% of SME executives plan other types of measures, while 20% plan no measures at all during the next 18 months, an increase of 3% since May 2011.

Methodology - The online survey polled 202 Québec SMEs with 10 or more employees and sales of $5 million and up. Respondents were invited to complete the survey between February 3 and 13, 2012, on Léger Marketing's secure Web site.

About the Fonds de solidarité FTQ

The Fonds de solidarité FTQ helps drive our economy. With net assets of $8.2 billion as of November 30, 2011, the Fund is a development capital investment fund that channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help further Québec's economic growth. Its investments, in all sectors of the economy, contribute to the creation and maintenance of businesses and development in Quebec. The Fund is a partner, either directly or through its network members, in 2,129 companies. With its 583,235 owner-shareholders, it has helped, on its own or with other financial partners, to create, maintain and protect 160,789 jobs. For more information, visit www.cyberfondsftq.com.

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Patrick McQuilken
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Fonds de solidarité FTQ
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