Planos de sustentabilidade para empresas de pequeno e médio porte: proposta tecnológica

Abstract

Since the Stockholm Conference in 1972, awareness of the need for sustainable environmental practices has been growing among companies and organizations. This evolution reflects a growing concern for sustainability, especially in a context where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a prominent role. According to a study conducted by Sebrae (2011), SMEs represent 47% of companies in Brazil, and are responsible for significant environmental impacts due to their representation in the market. However, these companies face challenges in remaining competitive, which include difficulties in adopting sustainable practices, often associated with a lack of knowledge, time and financial resources to hire specialized professionals, such as environmental engineers. Given this scenario, this project proposes the development of an interactive and dynamic application for the preparation of Terms of Reference (TR) for Sustainability Plans, aimed at SMEs. The main objective of this work is to offer an accessible and efficient tool that allows these companies to implement sustainable practices and meet environmental legal requirements. The project initially seeks to define the different types of businesses classified as small and medium-sized companies, investigate existing TR models, and then systematize this information in a modern, practical, and interactive mechanism. To structure the application, information obtained from the website of the Water and Land Institute (IAT) of Paraná was used, specifically from the Environmental Licensing tab. The Simplified Environmental Licenses granted during a given period were analyzed, with pig farming identified as the initial typology to be addressed in the application. This choice was based on the environmental relevance of the sector and its importance to the economy of Paraná. Based on this definition, bibliographic reviews were carried out in the scientific databases Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus to identify the main aspects that should be considered in the construction of the Terms of Reference. These analyses supported the formulation of questions directed to the users of the application, ensuring that the information collected is relevant and specific for the preparation of the TR. Based on this data, a functional application was developed using the no-code Adalo platform to automatically generate Terms of Reference for Sustainability Plans for small and medium-sized pig farms. The application was structured to be expandable, allowing for the inclusion of other business types in the future, which increases its potential for application. The end result was a practical and accessible tool that contributes to environmental sustainability by facilitating the adaptation of SMEs to environmental regulations, promoting the integration of ESG guidelines and Sustainable Development Goals into their operations. In this way, the project offers an innovative solution to one of the main challenges faced by small and medium-sized companies in Brazil.