Environmental awareness and perception on environmental management of entrepreneurs in batik industry in Kelantan, Malaysia

Small businesses form a backbone of economy in developed countries as well as in developing countries. However, at the same time, small businesses significantly contributed to environmental degradations because they are preoccupied with matters pertaining to business as well their limitation in resources to look after the environment. In Malaysia, batik industry is one of handicraft products that contributed significant to the country economy, but the industry has poor environmental record. Yet until recently, not many researchers in Malaysia conducted in research pertaining to environmental awareness and perception of SMEs entrepreneurs on environmental issues exacerbated by their businesses. This paper examines entrepreneurs awareness and perceptions of environmental issues. This study utilized in-depth interviews with three entrepreneurs in the industry in Kelantan. The results of the study found that not all batik entrepreneurs knowledgeable about batik industry effects on the natural environment. However, all of them had a positive perception about green business and they agreed that environmental regulations are very important to batik firms. They also agreed that the government needs to monitor and tighten up the existing environmental laws for greener environment in the industry.