WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a happy confluence of events, Earth Day falls during National Small Business Week this year. This convergence highlights that fact that small businesses are America’s environmental stewards.

“Every day is Earth Day for small business,” said Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Thomas M. Sullivan. “Every day small businesses endeavor to be good environmental stewards in their communities.”

Sullivan added, “At the same time, paperwork, and government mandates burden small business. Office of Advocacy research shows that the smallest of businesses annually spend 45 percent more per employee to comply with federal government regulations than their larger counterparts do.”

Nonetheless, Sullivan noted that small business innovation protects the environment. “Our research indicates that small innovative firms produce 13 times more patents per employee than large patenting firms do. Their innovative practices often yield environmentally friendly products and technologies,” he said.

Sullivan concluded that, “Whether it is health care, energy policy, or environmental protection, government is better off when we look to small business for answers.”

Recently, Advocacy’s Regulatory Review and Reform (r3) initiative tapped into small business expertise and recommended 10 ways that government can ease the disproportionate regulatory burden. One recommendation is for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its standards to reward new environmentally friendly methods used by small dry cleaners. Another is for EPA to allow manufacturers to recycle more of certain solid wastes.

The Office of Advocacy, the “small business watchdog” of the federal government, examines the role and status of small business in the economy and independently represents the views of small business to federal agencies, Congress, and the President. It is the source for small business statistics presented in user-friendly formats, and it funds research into small business issues.