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.