DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE ROMANIAN COMPANIES IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

ENG TEODOR-RAZVAN BERARIU 1, PHD. PROF. ENG GHEORGHE CONDURACHE1, PHD. PROF. ENG ROMEN BUTNARU 1 1 Faculty of Textile, Leather and Industrial Management, Technical University of Iasi, rberariu@yahoo.com
The paper analyzes the problems of Romanian companies regarding the use of clean technologies and makes an evaluation of the awareness of these companies regarding the changes required, on the national and international levels, in order to ensure sustainable development. In order to provide sustained economic development, economic performance needs economic productivity and competitiveness and, meanwhile, the use of the best technologies, from the point of view of environment protection. The necessary changes in production patterns and consumption behaviors require not only the increase of eco-label products, but also raising the awareness and participation of the business sector in developing and implementing environmental measures. In order to obtain relevant and complete information regarding the subject of this paper work, the authors have developed a survey that was sent to approximately 500 companies, in different sectors and regions of the country. The survey contains questions regarding environmental protection, the best available technology (BAT) and, also, questions about accessing and managing funds. The results showed that companies that were surveyed have plans to modernize their production capacity by investing in best available techniques. To reduce the gaps across the European Union, Romanian companies need to replace old and polluting technologies with others cleaner and more efficient. They also need to take a series of measures comprised in environmental policies. The information gathered in this study is analyzed both quantitatively and statistically and takes in consideration practical aspects that can offer an accurate and complete image on this issue. Keywords: sustainable developments, technological changes, clean production.

CONTEXT The latest 30 years have brought a major mutation in the global economic structure. The change is reflected by the increasing complexity of products, their rate of innovation and the emergence of a new economic constraint related to the absolute need to protect the environment. The environmental problem is currently the most important problem faced by humanity as a whole, because of the global effects of pollution. [Baumol W.J and Oates W.E. ,(1988)] The theory of sustainable development is very young, only emerging, at present, and enjoys a high recognition in the latest period, but for some companies in the Romanian business sector it is still unknown or difficult to implement. In order to provide sustained economic development, economic performance needs economic productivity and competitiveness and, meanwhile, the use of the best technologies, from the point of view of environment protection. The necessary changes in production patterns and consumption behaviors require not only the increase of eco-label products, but also raising the awareness and participation of the business sector in developing and implementing environmental measures. INTRODUCTION This study was intended to make an evaluation of and to monitor the current situation regarding the concerns of Romanian companies for the environment, the extent to which the environmental legal obligations are met, the situation of investments in green technologies and their contribution to sustainable development. In order to obtain relevant and complete information regarding the subject of this paper work, the authors have developed a survey that was sent to approximately 500 companies, in different sectors and regions of the country. The survey contains questions regarding environmental protection, the best available technology (BAT) and, also, questions about accessing and managing funds. There were a total of 51 responses received, which means a rate higher than 10 percent, which is rather acceptable. The data obtained was processed with SPSS statistics 17. QUIZ ANSWERS ANALYSIS The quiz designed to support the research was made of three parts: 1. The first part contained questions about the environmental protection; 2. The second part contained questions concerning the best available techniques; 3. The last part contained questions concerning the problems in accessing and managing funds. 1. Environmental issues. The aspects concerning the environmental protection are shown in the following four items: 1. On the question concerning the place where companies locate their manufacturing facilities, 51% of the responses received show that production facilities are in the urban area, 23% in rural areas and more than 20% are located in industrial parks (Figure 1). As seen from the responses received, it is necessary for Romanian companies' production facilities migrate to such special places as industrial parks, which, for example, benefit from a series of tax facilities. This proves to be a viable solution for the Romanian companies who want to relocate their production activities under environmental legislation, stipulating the transfer of production capacities outside urban areas. Romania hosts, at present, more than 91 industrial parks and other 20 are in advanced stages of completion.

The 7th International Conference Management of Technological Changes MTC 2011

60% of the companies said that wastewater is treated before discharging it to sewage, while their rate of only 6% did not conduct a wastewater pre-treatment (Figure 4).

Figure 1: Location of production facilities

2. When asked about the substances emitted in the atmosphere from production facilities, 57% from the companies said they discharge significant quantities of pollutants into the atmosphere, containing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and also sulfur oxides (Figure 2).

Figure 4: Wastewater is treated

Small industrial wastewater debits are discharged into municipal sewerage system, their treatment being made in common with municipal wastewater. This solution, recommended by the whole literature, can be applied only when industrial wastewater do not hinder or prevent the good functioning of the wastewater treatment plant. [Joint Research Centre, (2003)] 4. Next, we have analyzed the measures designed to minimize waste and its storage conditions. As shown in the chart below, 57% of companies have not set up a program to minimize waste resulting from production activities (Figure 5).

Figure 2: Substances released into the atmosphere

3. The following aspects of environmental protection presented in the survey aims wastewater problem. Thus, of all correspondents, 64% have a system for identifying, monitoring and control of wastewater well established, instead that only 4% of companies surveyed said that they don't have a control system for wastewater system (Figure 3).
Figure 5: Waste minimization programs

Another problem is represented by waste management disposal. According to the results obtained from the study, only 8% of companies have a special place for waste disposal (Figure 6). As a result of the global crisis of natural resources, correlated to rising prices of waste disposal, industrial companies are stimulated to make decisions favorable to processing and delivery, under favorable conditions, of their own waste to companies who use or process them, or to accept foreign waste, as substitute raw materials (both ways being profitable economic transactions).
Figure 3: Identifying, monitoring and controlling the wastewater

Difficulties faced by the Romanian company in sustainable development trough clean technology
3. Accessing and managing the funds. One of the aspects of investigation is referred to the managers assessing information on financing funds for sustainable development. Managers were said to be dissatisfied with the information at their disposal, considering that it is incomplete (19%) or submitted with a delay (40%). The results of research demonstrate that information remains an essential problem for those who want to access grants for development (Figure 9). [Medesan, (2009)]
Figure 6: Waste storage conditions

2. Aspects concerning the use of the best available techniques - BAT. Legislation on the prevention and the inspection of industrial pollution imposes the use of the best available technique at a time. Specialized institutions draw up mandatory BAT guidelines for various industries (energy, metallurgy, chemistry, etc...). [Central IPPC, MMGA, (2006)] The chart below shows that in order to increase the efficiency of the use of resources, companies have taken various measures, among which the most common was to invest in metering and low energy equipment and systems. The least used (at a rate of 2%) are renewable energies and alternative fuels (Figure 7).

Figure 9: Information regarding funds

26% of the companies surveyed have accessed EU funds or national funds in the field of sustainable development. The study also tried to identify the causes why SMEs don't get access to these funds. The most important such cases (Figure 10) are: difficult access to bank loans and their guarantee (33%), excessive bureaucracy and cumbersome procedures in accessing funds (26%), insufficient information, inadequate or delayed application (21%), programs inadequate for SMEs (5%).

Figure 7: Measures to increase resource utilizations

Meanwhile, 36% of the companies use production facilities comprising technologies that allow reduction of energy consumption and raw materials, 30% of them use technology that allows the use of less hazardous substances. A low percentage of only 6% of companies use technology that helps reduce waste and emissions (Figure 8).

Figure 10: Problems in accessing funds

The 26% of companies who have accessed funds have faced different problems (Figure 11) while managing them, of which the most important have been: the modification of the procedures with retroactive effect (40%), lack of transparency in the assessment procedures (40%) as well as bureaucratic and cumbersome procedures (20%).
Figure 8: Production facilities

The 7th International Conference Management of Technological Changes MTC 2011

Regarding the activity branch, most companies (93.62%), participating in the survey come from industry, especially from textile industry (85.11%), companies from energy services - 4.26% and consulting - 2.13% (Figure 14).

Figure 11: Problems encountered in managing funds

The ability to elaborate projects is no longer the main problem of EU funds absorption. Difficulties have occurred in the implementation of projects and in co financing them because of excessive bureaucracy and of the world financial crisis. SAMPLE STRUCTURING The distribution of the companies participating in the survey throughout Romania's development regions is as follows: North East - 25.53%, South East 12.77%, South - 4.26%, South West - 8.51%, Western Region - 12.77% , North West region 12.77%, Central region - 23.4%, Bucharest - 8.51%. (Figure12).

Figure 14: Business branch

CONCLUSIONS The results showed that companies that were surveyed have plans to modernize their production capacity by investing in best available techniques. To reduce the gaps across the European Union, Romanian companies need to replace old and polluting technologies with others cleaner and more efficient. They also need to take a series of measures comprised in environmental policies. [Berariu et al, (2010)] The funds are a real support for Romanian companies, but for the moment the problems of transparency in the assessment procedures, the difficulty in accessing bank loans and the excessive bureaucracy are the main causes for a lower level of absorption of the available EU funds. The information gathered in this study is analyzed both quantitatively and statistically and takes in consideration practical aspects that can offer an accurate and complete image on this issue. References
1. Baumol W.J.,Oates W.E. (1988), The Theory of Environmental Policy, seconde dition, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2. BerariuR,Condurache G, Butnaru R. (2010), Management-Social Responsibility-Sustainable Development, Proceedings of the 1st Management Conference(RMEE),Cluj-Napoca ,p352 3. . Ghid i generaliti BREF IPPC, Centrul IPPC, MMGA, 2006. 4. Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for the Textiles Industry, European Commission Directorate General JRC (Joint Research Centre), Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, Sevilla Spain, iulie 2003, internet: http://eippcb.jrc.es, Email: jrc-ipts-eippcb@cec.eu.int. 5. Vdineanu, A, (1999),Dezvoltare durabil, Mecanisme i instrumente, Editura Universitii Bucureti, 6. Medesan, Ioan , (2009), Controlul aplicarii corecte a obligatiilor fata de fondul pentru mediu , Control economic financiar v. 13, nr. 3, p. 20-26, 2009 7. Tudorescu,N, Stanciu, M (2008 ) Dezvoltarea durabila: concept si strategie ,Tribuna economica v. 19, nr. 34, p. 86

Figure 12: Development Region of Romania

The highest percentage on the sample is held by the enterprises with a turnover less than 2 million, which represents 44.68% of the all the participating firms, followed by the enterprises with a turnover between 2 and 43 million euro, whose share is 34.04% and enterprises with a turnover of more than 43 million euro, accounting for 21.28% (Figure 13).

Figure 13: Turnover

Acknowledgement This paper was realized with the support of EURODOC Doctoral Scholarships for research performance at European level project, financed by the European Social Found and Romanian Government.