Socio-environmental management in micro and small industries of Pau dos Ferros-RN Gestão socioambiental em micro e pequenas indústrias de

1/17 Resumo: O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar a percepção de gestores de micro e pequenas indústrias da cidade de Pau dos Ferros-RN acerca de práticas socioambientais. Para tanto, buscou-se verificar se essas empresas fazem uso de gestão socioambiental, identificando suas práticas e apontando motivações, entraves e oportunidades para sua implantação; também pretende-se descrever as consequências negativas e positivas percebidas por alguns gestores a partir das práticas socioambientais existentes, bem como identificar seus conhecimentos a respeito do tema. O trabalho traz uma abordagem teórica sobre Sustentabilidade e Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Gestão Ambiental e Responsabilidade Socioambiental, Micro e Pequenas Empresas, aspectos específicos relacionados à atividade industrial e a gestão socioambiental ligada a esse segmento. Corresponde a uma pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva, com pesquisa de campo e cujo instrumento de coleta se deu por meio de entrevistas com os gestores das micro e pequenas indústrias da cidade, seguidas de uma análise interpretativa, com base nos dados obtidos. A pesquisa mostrou que todos os entrevistados têm a noção sobre a importância do meio ambiente, sendo que a maioria desenvolve algumas práticas ambientais, principalmente voltadas à de economia de energia e água, alguns realizando reaproveitamento de materiais. As ações voltadas para as questões sociais são escassas, não estando Abstract: This study aims to analyze the perception managers of micro and small industries in the city of Pau dos Ferros, RN about environmental practices. To this end, it was sought to verify whether these companies use the environmental management, identifying its practices and pointing motivations, barriers, and opportunities for its implementation; also it was intended to describe the positive and negative consequences perceived by some managers from the existing social and environmental practices, and identify their knowledge on the subject. The paper presents a theoretical approach to Sustainability and Sustainable Development, Environmental Management and Social Responsibility, Micro and Small Enterprises, specific aspects related to industrial activity and environmental management related to that segment. It is qualitative and descriptive research with field research and the collection instrument was through interviews with managers of micro and small industries in the city, followed by an interpretive analysis based on the data obtained. Research has shown that all respondents have awareness about the importance of the environment, and most of them develop some environmental practices, mainly focused on the energy and water savings, and some performing reuse of materials. Social-oriented stocks are scarce and are not directly related to the environmental strategy of the company. Most of the companies did not consider difficult to invest or develop environmental initiatives, although they realized that this requires incentives from the governments, which does not occur with any of the companies interviewed. Most of the managers understand that environmental actions generate positive impacts for companies, such as cost reduction, image enhancement, increased competitiveness and profitability, hardly realizing negatives aspects. In addition, respondents felt that their companies even being micro or small, have an importance for the community, mainly due to the generation of employment and income, vital to the development of the city and region.