Unlocking a Sustainable Green Growth Frontier of Manufacturing Small to Medium Enterprises in the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Chinhoyi Urban, Zimbabwe
Abstract
Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) contribute significantly to economic growth and sustainable development globally. However, their contribution to sustainable green growth in the fourth industrial revolution has been largely not addressed by literature in Zimbabwe, which this qualitative study sought to unveil. The mantra of green growth strategies is ensuring a practical and flexible approach for achieving concrete, measurable progress across its economic and environmental pillars. Green growth strategies are not limited to the provision of critical support services, clean water, air and food production but to deliver full economic potential on a sustainable basis. This lacuna has not been addressed by literature on SMEs in Chinhoyi which this study sought to fill. The study purposively selected 15 registered manufacturing SMEs where an interview guide was used to solicit data from SMEs owners, which then was analysed and presented thematically. Study results showed that the availability of certain types of natural capital (sun, water, wind, among others) offer new opportunities for greening growth for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The results confirm that technological change has been the main driver of green growth and efficiency for manufacturing SMEs. The results also pointed out that vital parts of the SMEs’ green growth journey is developing business plans for new, sustainable products and services, implementing greener production or operational processes, or integrating selected standards that can enable some companies to get access to new markets. Based on the results, SMEs require capital to realise their green growth business plans. SMEs are encouraged to redefine their mission, vision and values and incorporate green concepts to enhance sustainability. A longitudinal study needs to be done on all types of SMEs going green in their business strategic orientation in Zimbabwe.
