Measuring the green transition with business tendency surveys

Statistics Netherlands observes among statistics users a need for more up-to-date statistics and insight in business behaviour on the green transition. This need may be fulfilled by the use of business tendency surveys (BTS). Statistics Netherlands conducts three monthly business tendency surveys in the following areas: manufacturing industry, retail trade and services. This study focuses on the question: How can business tendency surveys be used on a regular basis to monitor developments in the green transition of businesses?

Business tendency surveys provide a flexible instrument for obtaining information. However, due to the nature of the instrument, including additional questions should be well-considered and be kept to a minimum. Although information needs may be relevant from a policy perspective, priorities have to be set. Business tendency surveys can only provide general information about a topic rather than specific. By current Dutch legislation, data may only be requested from enterprises and institutions in relation to the economic and investment outlook.

This study proposes a GreenTransition-module for the BTS. It describes managers’ assessments, expectations, plans and constraints about the green transition of their enterprise. The module is designed to enable analysis of the green transition of enterprises in relation to fluctuations in the business cycle. Questions focus on investments, investment types, procurement, greening constraints and progress towards climate neutrality of their enterprise. To distribute the response burden, data are collected at various survey rounds throughout the year.

This chapter starts with a general description of government policy on the green transition¹⁾. Next, the purpose and method of this study are discussed. The chapter concludes with the structure of this publication.

1.1 Policy framework

European Green Deal

The European Green Deal is the European Union’s (EU) roadmap for making the EU economy sustainable (EC, 2019). The objective is to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, reduce net greenhouse gas emissions 55 percent by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The European Parliament adopted the Climate Law to make these targets legally binding. “Fit for 55” is the title of a package of new and revised legislation on climate, energy, transport and taxation policies to implement the Climate Law and to reach the 2030 target (EP, 2023). The European Green Deal covers all sectors of the economy, including transport, energy, agriculture and food, buildings and industries (EU, 2019). The Green Deal focuses on several key areas (EP, 2023 and EC, 2023a):

• Reducing emissions from industry, transport and other sectors
• Boosting the circular economy, in which resources are used in a sustainable way, waste is minimized, and products are reused and recycled
• Creating a sustainable food system
• Restoring nature and preserve biodiversity to absorb and store carbon;
• Increase higher shares of renewable energy and greater energy efficiency;
• Renovate buildings to save energy and protect against weather extremes;
• Financing the green transition.

Netherlands

As part of the European Green Deal, the reduction targets will be translated into national emission reduction targets. In turn, these will be translated into targets for business sectors, additional to previously set reduction targets (EZK, 2023).

In order to realize the green transition, a mix of policy instruments is used. For instance, the Dutch manufacturing industry is encouraged to invest in sustainability by pricing emissions through the European emissions trading system ETS and the national CO₂ levy. In addition, the Dutch government stimulates investments in sustainability with subsidies for innovation, scaling up and the roll-out of techniques for emission reduction, energy saving and circularity (EZK, 2023). Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can apply for the subsidy scheme Improving Sustainability of SMEs (SVM). Subsidy schemes are also in place to stimulate the sustainability of non-residential buildings such as the Energy Investment Allowance (EIA) and the Sustainable Energy Investment Subsidy (ISDE) business. And by setting up zero emission zones for urban logistics and subsidies for zero-emission commercial vehicles (SEBA) or making inland vessels more sustainable (SRVB) enterprises are encouraged to invest in sustainable mobility (Rijksoverheid, 2023).

1.2 Purpose

Statistics Netherlands observes in society an increasing need for information on climate change and energy transition, environmental quality and circularity, and nature and biodiversity. Statistics Netherlands also observes the emergence of international and national policies and agreements on sustainable development in a range of domains. As the national statistical office, Statistics Netherlands is in this area too, responsible for supporting public debate, policy development and scientific research by providing unbiased, consistent and reliable statistics (CBS, 2023).

A call from statistics users for more up-to-date statistics and insight in business behaviour is observed among the information needs. This need may be fulfilled with the use of business tendency surveys (BTS) for four reasons. First, business tendency surveys are often an important source of high frequency data. Second, similar to all surveys, it allows for the collection of data which are generally not otherwise collected, such as behaviour (UN, 2016). Third, it allows to examine the correlation between business cycle developments and developments in the green transition at a micro-level with one instrument. And fourth, the production of statistics may cost society less when using an existing mechanism instead of setting up a new system. While business tendency surveys do not yet contribute to the measurement of sustainability, they currently do provide contextual information (OECD, 2021a).

This study focuses on the question: How can the BTS be used on a regular basis to monitor developments in the green transition of businesses? 

As a partner institute at national level, Statistics Netherlands has carried out harmonised surveys of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys (BCS) since the 1960s. Four monthly surveys are currently conducted by Statistics Netherlands in the following areas: consumers (CTS), manufacturing industry (BTS), retail trade (BTS) and services (BTS).

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1.3 Method

Using personal and group interviews among statistics users, statistical information needs concerning the Green Deal were assessed by Statistics Netherlands in the winter of 2022/2023. The statistics users include government organizations, national institutes for policy analysis, universities, professional associations and banks. A number of interviews indicated a need for more up-to-date statistics and insights in business behaviour about the green transition.

On the 14th of March in 2023, Statistics Netherlands organised a Green Deal Workshop. An expert poster session on measuring sustainability with BTS provided opportunity to discuss and gather input from the participants. Specific input was later gathered among government organizations.

Keeping the information needs in mind, literature was studied as a next step to provide the methodological principles and rationale for BTS-questions on the green transition and its implementation. Feedback from subject-matter experts at Statistics Netherlands was gathered and incorporated into this study.

1.4 Structure

This publication is structured in the following manner. Chapter 2 provides general requirements for developing statistics by Statistics Netherlands, and in particular requirements about business tendency surveys. Chapter 3 provides the concepts and rationale used in the development of the questions. Based on those concepts, chapter 4 provides the developed questions in English and Dutch. Chapter 5 provides guidance in the implementation specific to the business tendency surveys of Statistics Netherlands.

This chapter describes legislation, statistical requirements and guiding principles relevant to developing questions for the BTS of Statistics Netherlands.

2.1 Statistical requirements

Statistics Netherlands applies strict requirements for all the figures it publishes. These requirements also apply to the development of new statistics, which is in essence the purpose of this study. Applicable legislation, such as the Statistics Netherlands Act, requires Statistics Netherlands to comply with various provisions. In addition, Statistics Netherlands has also committed itself to several quality requirements. The following provisions are used in this study. 

The four most important provisions of the Statistics Netherlands Act are: 

• Confidentiality: Statistics Netherlands may solely disseminate information in a non-identifiable manner. This means that no individual person, household, enterprise or institution can be identified. An exception is made for situations in which there are legitimate reasons to assume an enterprise or institution would not object to publication. 
• Publication: Statistics Netherlands will publish aggregated results in the public domain. 
• Administrative burden: Statistics Netherlands is obliged to minimise the administrative burden on its respondents and data suppliers as much as possible. Statistics Netherlands should use administrative sources to collect data. Data collection by means of surveys is only allowed if data is not available in administrative sources or if the data in administrative sources are not usable for statistical applications;
• Data collection: the Director General of Statistics Netherlands is authorised to request, for statistical purposes, data from enterprises when data from administrative sources fail to yield the necessary data. The data that can be requested and the categories of enterprises from which the data can be requested are designated by Order in Council. This applies to the BTS of Statistics Netherlands. The current CBS Data Acquisition Decree (in Dutch: Besluit gegevensverwerving CBS) stipulates that data may be requested concerning the economic and investment outlook from enterprises and institutions in all economic activities.

Statistics Netherlands is committed to the following quality requirements³⁾ to create reliable and consistent information:

• Relevance 
• Accuracy and reliability 
• Timeliness and punctuality 
• Coherence, comparability and consistency 
• Accessibility and clarity 

Statistics Netherlands also aims to maintain the continuity and to manage the costs by producing statistics efficiently.

2.2 Guiding principles

Business tendency surveys are implemented in various countries for many years. Common elements, best practices and harmonised principles which have emerged over time, provide guidance to assist in conducting these surveys successfully.

General guiding principles

Common elements and best practices of business tendency surveys include (UN, 2015: p. 1, 3, 14-15; OECD, 2003: p. 11):

• Business tendency surveys are tools for the assessment and analysis of economic development and fluctuations in the business cycle; 
• Questions should measure developments in the business activity or production at an early stage to timely capture business cycle developments;
• Questions should reflect topics that are sensitive to changes in the economic environment or activity;
• Questions should mainly be qualitative and focus on assessments, expectations, plans and constraints;
• Questions should be simple and intuitive to make it easy for respondents to complete the questionnaire quickly;
• The number of questions should be kept to a minimum in order to reduce response burden;
• Questions should be relevant from the perspective of the managers of enterprises and not only from a business cycle theory perspective;
• Business tendency surveys are not a substitute for quantitative data. They provide information additional to the existing set of quantitative statistics;
• When a business tendency survey has been established on a regular basis, it can be used for ad hoc enquiries (in response to significant shocks to the economy). Hence, the mechanism in place for carrying out regular business tendency surveys provides a flexible instrument for obtaining policy-relevant information in such situations (OECD, 2003: p. 11).

Joint Harmonised EU Programme of business and consumer surveys

Statistics Netherlands is a partner institute of the Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys (BCS). The EU BCS programme requires Statistics Netherlands to comply with its provisions. The BCS is conducted according to a common methodology, which consists of harmonised questionnaires and a common timetable. However, the national questionnaires may include additional questions beyond the harmonised ones (EC, 2023b: p. 3, 5).

2.3 Discussion

Business tendency surveys provide a flexible instrument for obtaining information. However, due to the nature of the instrument, including additional questions should be well-considered and be kept to a minimum. Although information needs may be relevant from a policy perspective, priorities have to be set. Which of the information needs can be measured with a questionnaire? Which of those are suitable to be asked on a regular basis? What are seen as the most important? And are respondents able to provide accurate answers to such questions? Omnibus and dedicated surveys⁴⁾ are better suited to gather ad-hoc information on broad topics like the green transition. Also, in-depth interviews are a good tool to study how events, beliefs and behaviour interact. Business tendency surveys can only provide general information about a topic rather than specific. By current Dutch legislation, data may only be requested from respondents in relation to the economic and investment outlook.

This chapter provides the concepts and rationale for developing questions to measure the green transition with business tendency surveys.

3.1 Population

The green transition is relevant to all business sectors and to both large enterprises as well as small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). First, the green transition offers opportunities both in employment as well as income for all businesses. Second, although policy may be focused on the business sectors or enterprises with the largest environmental footprint, SMEs and other business sectors have a significant aggregate environmental footprint. Third, emerging regulation (such as the CSRD) requires large enterprises and financial institutions to report on the environmental performance of their entire value chain or financed portfolios. In this way, SMEs and all business sectors are affected by their participation in value chains or their search for finance (OECD, 2022). And fourth, the impact of climate change is expected to fall disproportionately on SMEs (EC, 2023c). Thus, questions should be relevant for enterprises of all sizes and business sectors.

3.2 Characterisations

There are several, not mutually exclusive, typologies to distinguish types of enterprises and their (economic) role in the green transition. For instance, one typology distinguishes how enterprises reduce the environmental footprint of their production process. Do they adopt “end-of-pipe technologies” or eliminate the environmental impact of the production process itself (adopt “clean technologies”)? Another typology is whether the enterprise is a sustainability enabler or not. Enablers devise and offer (innovative) green solutions to other enterprises, institutions or consumers. Yet another typology focuses on differences in the motivation of enterprises to become greener. For some enterprises, greening consists of being compliant with environmental regulations. For other enterprises sustainability or well-being may be a distinctive value (OECD, 2019).

Although such typologies can be useful for policy development and policy instrument design, the characterisation of an enterprise is not expected to change much in a short period of time. Therefore, the BTS is not an appropriate instrument to measure them.

3.3 Investments: change, type planned, constraints

In essence, the green transition requires enterprises to make different investment, procurement and resource-efficient decisions. Enterprises are encouraged by legislation and policy instruments to develop and/or adopt low-carbon technologies and purchase greener energy, greener materials and so. Questions could thus reflect topics relating to investment, procurement and limiting factors therein.

Question development

In a way, the EU BCS programme provides a tested and implemented question-template to investigate investments in qualitative terms (see 3.3.1). This template can be applied to enquire about investments by the enterprise to be(come) climate neutral. This template can also be applied and merged with a tested and implemented question-template on procurement to enquire about sustainable purchasing.

Change in investments and procurement

The question about the change in investment of the enterprise from year t-1 to year t is found to be the most appropriate. In this case, the question is asked twice a year. As such, it offers the possibility to timely capture developments. Also, respondents are asked about the present and the most recent past. Asking about the present reduces uncertainty associated with questions about the future. And also asking about the most recent past may be easier for respondents to remember, compared to questions about longer ago. This type of question is also suitable to ask about changes in procurement.

Type of investment planned

For similar reasons as described above, a question on the type of investment in year t is found to be most appropriate. In this case, the question is asked once, at the beginning of the year. The list of types of investment is based on (Dutch) policy goals instead of types of assets. The type of investments include: emission reduction, renewable energy, energy efficiency and saving, circular production and water saving.

Constraints

For questions on factors limiting enterprises to become climate neutral, a list of possible factors is proposed. These include:

• High prices or cost of capital of sustainable alternatives. In general, investments are partly dependent on costs of capital such as depreciation and interest. Low-carbon technologies and equipment can be capital-intensive and associated with high costs and execution risks (OECD, 2022a:4). Also, limited demand or limited supply of green products and services may result in higher prices. This may make it expensive for businesses to implement low-carbon solutions.
• Lack of more sustainable alternatives. The extent to which businesses can make greener choices depends on the development and diffusion of green technologies. Also a lack of information and awareness of opportunities may limit the greening of enterprises (OECD, 2021b).
• Limited access to finance. As investments in low-carbon technologies can be capital-intensive, access to finance is essential, especially for SMEs (OECD, 2022b:1).
• Shortage of (skilled and knowledgeable) labour force. Implementing sustainable practices can be a time-consuming process, requiring specialized knowledge or skills that may not be available in-house (OECD, 2021b).
• Energy infrastructure shortages. Infrastructure shortages such as a lack of electric charging points, netcongestion on the power grid, or lack of hydrogen infrastructure may hinder the greening of business activities.
• (Market) uncertainty. In general, investments are partly dependent on favourable expectations about the economic climate in relation to profits or sales. Policy and regulatory uncertainty can also contribute to market uncertainty (OECD, 2021b).

In this case, the question is asked twice a year.

3.4 Energy use, waste and greenhouse gas emissions

Business activity and production generally require some form of material and energy use as inputs. Besides products and services, the results of these activities include some form of waste and greenhouse gas emissions. To follow the progress in the green transition, managers could be asked about (expected) developments in the energy use, waste and emissions levels of their enterprise. In the spirit of the BTS a question could be whether these are expected to increase, remain unchanged or decrease in the coming months. However, energy efficiency, waste and emission reduction often advances in ‘steps’, related to investments in more efficient technology or processes. If one would measure (expected) developments in energy use, waste and emission levels on the short term, the measurement would generally be directly related to developments in the business activity, production or investments. As investments can be measured directly (see 3.3) and developments in business activity or production are already measured by the BTS, adding additional questions on energy use, waste and emissions developments would be superfluous. Gathering data from (smart) meters might, in this case, be more suitable.

Another way to follow the progress in the green transition, is to let managers assess the extent to which the business activity is climate neutral.

Question development

A self-assessment question about the extent to which the business activity is climate neutral has some caveats relating to response bias. A couple of techniques can be used to lower the risk of response bias. These techniques are additional to already implemented¹⁾ techniques. Response alternatives should contain both percentage-range categories, as well as words to describe the category labels. This provides a consistent frame of reference for all respondents. The use of solely words to describe category labels, comes with the risk of having different meanings for different respondents. Whereas the use of solely percentage-range categories may imply that the respondents are expected to compute an estimate.

Also, the response alternatives should include the option ‘Don’t know’ for those respondents who are unable to provide an answer.

Directing the question at the business sector rather than the business activity of the enterprise, may reduce the pressure to give a more favourable answer. On the other hand, respondents may be less informed about the state of the business sector. Therefore, this technique is not recommended.

As the question in general may be difficult for respondents to answer, it should be placed late in the sequence. In this case, the question is asked once a year, at the beginning of the year.

3.5 Effects of climate change

Another aspect relevant to enterprises and the economic environment are the effects of climate change on business activity or production. Due to climate change (e.g., higher temperatures, increase or lack of precipitation, severer storms and related wildfires, drought, floods) enterprises may face higher risks of reduced productivity. Examples of reduced productivity may be a result of (EC, 2023c):

• damage to crops, livestock, buildings and infrastructure;
• reduced workforce availability due to occupational constraints (higher temperature at work, more frequent and intense natural hazards keeping people from working);
• (fresh) water shortages influencing the availability of irrigation for agriculture, cooling water for industrial and energy plants and water levels of rivers and canals for inland shipping;

This may in turn cause disruptions in supply chains leading to delays, increased costs of maintenance, increased costs of materials and labour, higher prices, increased demand for weather insurance and unemployment benefits for inclement weather⁶⁾.

Also due to climate change, the suitability of geographical areas may change for those economic activities (such as tourism, agriculture and forestry) which are more dependent on climate conditions or phenology⁷⁾ and ecosystems than others. This may result in sectoral production shifts (EC, 2023b).

Finally, climate change may lead to investments in climate adaptation (e.g. building resilient buildings and infrastructure). In turn, this may impact the competitiveness of enterprises (OECD, 2019:7)

With regard to the guiding principles mentioned in 2.2, not all of these effects are suitable to be measured within the framework of the BTS. However, the general impact of weather conditions on business activity or production is a simple and intuitive question for respondents to complete. It is also possible to add ad hoc enquiries about the effect of severe weather conditions and natural disasters on business activity when such conditions have occurred.

Question development

In the construction survey of the EU BCS programme , “weather conditions” is already one of the response alternatives to the question “What main factors are currently limiting your building activity?”. This response alternative could be added to a similar question (i.e. “What main factors are currently limiting your business?”) in the manufacturing industry and services surveys of the EU BCS programme. This addition would increase the response burden marginally. Concerning the retail survey of the EU BCS programme, the entire question “What main factors are currently limiting your business?” needs to be added. Although this increases the response burden, it also yields useful information about economic developments in those business activities, improving comparability with the other surveys.

This chapter provides the developed survey questions, in English and in Dutch, for the GreenTransition-module of the BTS of Statistics Netherlands. The questions are based on the concepts and rationale described in the previous chapter.

4.1 Change in investments

English version

Frequency: half-yearly, June and December
Survey: industry, services, retail trade

Question: Compared with last year your investment this year to be climate neutral will

Climate neutrality means that the business operations do not emit greenhouse gases or that these emissions are compensated.

+ Increase
= Remain unchanged
− Decrease

Dutch version

Frequentie: halfjaarlijks, juni en december 
Vragenlijst: industrie, diensten, detailhandel

Vraag: Onze investeringen voor een klimaatneutrale bedrijfsvoering zullen dit jaar, vergeleken met vorig jaar, naar schatting

Klimaatneutraal betekent dat de productie/zakelijke activiteiten geen broeikasgassen uitstoot óf dat deze uitstoot wordt gecompenseerd.

+ Toenemen
= Vrijwel gelijk blijven
− Afnemen

4.2 Change in procurement

English version

Frequency: half-yearly, June and December
Survey: industry, services, retail trade 

Question: Compared with last year the value of the orders of environmental friendly materials and consumables you expect to place with suppliers this year will 

Environmental friendly materials and consumables burden the environment as little as possible, for example during its production, in use or as waste

+ Increase
= Remain unchanged
− Decrease

Dutch version

Frequentie: halfjaarlijks, juni en december
Vragenlijst: industrie, diensten, detailhandel

Vraag: De waarde van orders voor duurzame materialen en gebruiksgoederen die wij bij leveranciers verwachten te plaatsen zullen dit jaar, vergeleken met vorig jaar, naar schatting

Duurzame materialen en gebruiksgoederen belasten het milieu zo min mogelijk, bijvoorbeeld bij de productie ervan, in het gebruik of als afval

+ Toenemen
= Vrijwel gelijk blijven
− Afnemen

4.3 Greening constraints

English version

Frequency: half-yearly, June and December
Survey: industry, services, retail trade

Question: Are you experiencing obstacles in making your business climate neutral?

Climate neutrality means that the business operations do not emit greenhouse gases or that these emissions are compensated.

– Yes
– No

[If Yes] Question: What is the main obstacle in making your business climate neutral?
(maximum 2 answers)

Climate neutrality means that the business operations do not emit greenhouse gases or that these emissions are compensated.

• High prices or high cost of capital (depreciation, interest) of sustainable alternatives
• Lack of sustainable alternatives
• Shortage of suitable workers
• Limited access to finance
• Infrastructure shortages, such as energy infrastructure
• Uncertainty about economy and/or policy
• Other [input text field]

Dutch version

Frequentie: halfjaarlijks, juni en december
Vragenlijst: industrie, diensten, detailhandel

Wordt u belemmert bij het klimaatneutraal maken van uw bedrijf?

Klimaatneutraal betekent dat de productie/zakelijke activiteiten geen broeikasgassen uitstoot óf dat deze uitstoot wordt gecompenseerd.

• Ja
• Nee

[Als Ja] Vraag: Wat is de belangrijkste belemmering om uw bedrijf klimaatneutraal te maken?
(maximaal 2 antwoorden)

Klimaatneutraal betekent dat de productie/zakelijke activiteiten geen broeikasgassen uitstoot óf dat deze uitstoot wordt gecompenseerd.

• Hogere prijzen of hogere vermogenskosten (afschrijvingen, rente) van duurzame alternatieven
• Gebrek aan duurzamere alternatieven
• Tekort aan geschikte arbeidskrachten
• Beperkte toegang tot financiële middelen
• Beperkingen in het netwerk, zoals het energienetwerk
• Onzekerheid over de economie en/of beleid
• Anders, nl [tekst invoerveld]

4.4 Type of investments planned

English version

Frequency: annually, February 
Survey: industry, services, retail trade

Question: Which investments is your company undertaking this year to be more sustainable
(choose the most important category that applies)(maximum of 2 answers)

• This year we will not make such investments [excludes other response alternatives]
• Emission reduction (reducing emissions or capturing and storing emissions that have a harmful effect on the environment)
• Renewable energy (wind energy, hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy, aerothermal heat or biomass)
• Energy efficiency or energy saving
• Circular production (less waste, saving materials, reusing materials)
• Water saving
• Other [input text field]

Dutch version

Frequentie: jaarlijks, februari
Vragenlijst: industrie, diensten, detailhandel

Vraag: Waarin investeert uw bedrijf dit jaar om het bedrijf te verduurzamen?
(Kies de belangrijkste categorie(ën) die van toepassing zijn)(maximaal 2 antwoorden)

• Dit jaar investeren wij niet op dat gebied [sluit andere antwoordopties uit]
• Emissiereductie (verminderen van uitstoot of afvang en opslag van stoffen met een schadelijk effect op het milieu) 
• Hernieuwbare energie (energie uit wind, waterkracht, zon, bodem, buitenluchtwarmte of biomassa)
• Energie efficiëntie of energie besparing
• Circulaire productie (minder afval, duurzamer gebruik van materiaal en hergebruik van materialen)
• Waterbesparing
• Anders, nl. [tekst invoerveld]

4.5 Climate neutrality of business operations

English version

Frequency: annually, February
Survey: industry, services, retail trade

Question: How much are your business operations climate neutral?
(1 answer) 
Climate neutral means that the business operations do not emit greenhouse gases or that these emissions are compensated.

• To a very small extent (0-20%)
• To a small extent (20-40%)
• Not to a large extent, but not to a small extent either (40-60%)
• To a large extent (60-80%)
• To a very large extent (80-100%)
• Completely or net negative (100% or more)
• Don’t know

Dutch version

Frequentie: jaarlijks, februari
Vragenlijst: industrie, diensten, detailhandel

Vraag: Hoe klimaatneutraal is de productie/zakelijke activiteit van uw bedrijf?
(1 antwoord)

Klimaatneutraal betekent dat de productie/zakelijke activiteit geen broeikasgassen uitstoot óf dat deze uitstoot wordt gecompenseerd.

• In zeer kleine mate (0-20%)
• In kleine mate (20-40%)
• Niet in grote mate, maar ook niet in kleine mate (40-60%)
• In grote mate (60-80%)
• In zeer grote mate (80-100%)
• Volledig of netto negatief (100% of meer)
• Weet niet

4.6 Production limitations

English version

Frequency: Quarterly questions (January, April, July and October)
Survey: industry, services, retail trade 

Question: [Industry] What main factors are currently limiting your production?
[Services][Retail trade] What main factors are currently limiting your business?

• None [excludes other response alternatives]
• Insufficient demand
• Shortage of labour force
• Shortage of material and/or equipment
• Financial constraints
• Weather conditions
• Other factors [input text field]

Dutch version

Frequentie: kwartaal (januari, april, juli en oktober)
Vragenlijst: industrie, diensten, detailhandel

Vraag: Onze productie/zakelijke activiteiten ondervinden thans belemmeringen

• Geen [sluit andere antwoordopties uit]
• Onvoldoende vraag
• Tekort arbeidskrachten
• Tekort productiemiddelen
• Financiële beperkingen
• Weersomstandigheden
• Andere belemmeringen [tekst invoerveld]

This chapter provides guidance to the practical implementation of the GreenTransition-module specific to the business tendency surveys of Statistics Netherlands.

5.1 Statistical presentation

Data description

The GreenTransition-module of the BTS describes managers’ assessments, expectations, plans and constraints about the green transition of their enterprise. The module is designed to enable analysis of the green transition of enterprises in relation to fluctuations in the business cycle.

The collected information allows measuring the green transition of the manufacturing industry, retail trade and services sectors with 5 or more persons employed in the Netherlands.

Classification system

For a breakdown by business activity, the Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE), Rev. 2 is used. A regional breakdown is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS). 

Coverage – sector

The following business activities are included in the core target population:
Industry: NACE Rev.2 from 10 to 33.
Retail trade: NACE Rev.2 45 and 47.
Services: NACE Rev.2 from 49 to 96 (excluding: 64-66 and 84-88).

Statistical concepts and definitions

The statistical concepts are defined in The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys User Guide.

Statistical unit

The local unit is an enterprise or part thereof (e.g. a workshop, factory, warehouse, office, mine or depot) situated in a geographically identified place.

Statistical population

All enterprises of a given sector with 5 or more persons employed are included in the statistical population. The general business register (ABR) of Statistics Netherlands is a coordinated monthly frame of business units for most surveys. The ABR contains information about the total population of enterprise groups and corresponding enterprises and establishments. The register is based on the new trade register (NHR) of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK).

Reference area

The reference area is The Netherlands. Data for the Caribbean Netherlands are not included.

Coverage – time

2024-present.

Base period

Not applicable.

5.2 Unit of measure

Ratios are expressed in percentages.

5.3 Reference period

Depending on their exact formulation, the survey questions have the following reference 
periods: 
– The release month of the survey results; 
– The time period preceding the release month;
– The time period following the release month.

5.4 Institutional mandate

Institutional Mandate – legal acts and other agreements

• Statistics Netherlands Act (in Dutch: Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek ), in particular articles 3, 4, 33.3, 33.4. 
• CBS Data Acquisition Decree (in Dutch: Besluit gegevensverwerving CBS ) articles 2 and 3.l.
• EU BCS programme: European Commission decision C(97) 2241 of 15 July 1997. Regular updates on the implementation of the Programme in terms of use, methodology and coverage were presented in Commission communications COM(2000) 770 of 29 November 2000, COM(2006) 379 of 12 July 2006, SEC(2012) 227 of 4 April 2012 and C(2016) 6634 of 20 October 2016. 
  – Framework partnership agreement ECFIN - NL-CBS.

Institutional Mandate – data sharing

The mission of Statistics Netherlands is to compile official statistics and to publish all non-confidential and sufficiently reliable results. Statistics Netherlands makes these results accessible to the public through various channels. Micro-data can be made available for statistical research within a secure CBS environment to Dutch universities, scientific organisations, planning agencies and statistical authorities within the EU. This service is provided under strict conditions. This is specified in law: Statistics Netherlands Act (in Dutch: Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek), sections 3.1, 37 and 41 in particular. 

5.5 Confidentiality

Policy

Statistics Netherlands guarantees the privacy of respondents (persons, enterprises and other), the confidential nature of the information provided and the sole use for statistical purposes. This is specified in law: Statistics Netherlands Act (in Dutch: Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek), and section 37 in particular. 

Data treatment

Confidential data is restricted from publication.

5.6 Release policy

Release calendar

No official calendar is available for the data release. However, figures are generally published no later than the last working day of the reference month. See also 5.12 timeliness and punctuality.

Release policy – user access

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Statistics Netherlands disseminates statistics on its website respecting professional independence, in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. All users have access to the online datasets. Data derived from specific requests for data are also made available to the general public.

5.7 Frequency of dissemination

Depending on the survey question, dissemination is at monthly, quarterly, biannual or annual frequency.

5.8 Accessibility and clarity

Dissemination

Figures are made available to users through various channels:

• Figures are disseminated in full detail in custom tables (CSV or Excel) in the additional-research  section of the Statistics Netherlands website;
• Figures are not yet planned to be published in the online database of Statistics Netherlands;
• News releases are published ad-hoc on the website  of Statistics Netherlands. Upcoming news releases are announced on the publication planning  of Statistics Netherlands;
• Micro-data can be made available to Dutch universities, scientific organisations, planning agencies and statistical authorities within the EU under strict conditions for statistical research within a secure CBS environment .

Methodology documentation

The reference methodology for the questions on the green transition is described in this study. 

This study is published in the methodology-papers  section of the Statistics Netherlands website.

Quality documentation

Quality declaration.

5.9 Quality management

Quality assurance

Statistics Netherlands follows the Code of Practice for European Statistics. More information on quality assurance can be found here.

Quality management - assessment

The figures are checked for completeness, internal consistency and plausibility. If possible, results are systematically compared with the results of comparable surveys in neighbouring countries. The production process complies with the ISO-9001 guideline.

5.10 Relevance

The questions provide essential information for policy making, economic surveillance, short-term forecasting and economic research on the green transition. The survey data are particularly useful for monitoring developments by business activity, business size and in relation to business cycle developments.

5.11 Accuracy and reliability

Accuracy

Confidence intervals can be calculated and published. 

Non-sampling error

Non-sampling errors specific to the GreenTransition-module could potentially arise from response errors and respondents’ inability and unwillingness to answer. Explanations of specific terms are provided to minimize varied interpretations of questions and response alternatives. Respondents’ inability and unwillingness to answer is dealt with in various ways. As the number of questions is limited, filter questions cannot always be used to overcome situations where respondents are not informed about the topic of interest. Instead, the response alternative “Not applicable” or “Don’t know” is available to respondents. An open text field is available, where applicable, for respondents to articulate their response other than the available response alternatives. Response alternatives ‘none’, and ‘this year we will not make such investments’ exclude other response alternatives. The GreenTransition-module is also placed late in the sequence of questions.

5.12 Timeliness and punctuality

Timeliness

Fieldwork is part of the regular business tendency surveys of Statistics Netherlands. The fieldwork for the surveys is generally performed in the first three weeks of each month. The survey results are generally produced five working days before the end of the reference month.

Figures are published along with figures to the EU BCS programme publication schedule  at the end of the reference month.

Punctuality

Figures are in general delivered at the target date, no later than the last working day of the reference month.

5.13 Coherence and comparability

Comparability

The method followed aims to guarantee coherence and comparability of the results.

In order to ensure comparability Statistic Netherlands applies the concepts and methodology recommended by The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys. The GreenTransition-module is part of the same production system for all of the business tendency surveys administered by Statistics Netherlands.

Coherence

If possible, results are systematically compared with the results of other statistics.

5.14 Response burden

To limit the response burden, Statistics Netherlands decided on a maximum of 3 additional questions per survey round period. Each question has a maximum of 7 to 8 response alternatives. Respondents can choose only one or two response alternatives. To distribute the response burden, data are collected at various survey rounds throughout the year.

5.15 Data revision

Revision policy

Data provided in the frame of each survey round are not subject to adjustment or revisions. The provided data are final.

Revision practice

The figures are revised when inconsistencies are found. Upon release, data are final.

5.16 Statistical processing

Source data

Statistics Netherlands carries out a stratified sample survey to collect the data. The stratified sampling method is probability proportional to size (PPS). The stratification variable is NACE.

Frequency of data collection

Data on change in investment, change in procurement and constraints about the green transition are collected half-yearly in June and December. These months were chosen for a number of reasons: 

• To create a half-yearly frequency;
• To avoid interference with the data collection of the EU BCS Investment questions. 
• To distribute the response burden (see 5.14). 
• Due to lower response rates in August (school holidays in the summer) the combination February-August is less favourable.

Data on the type of investment planned and climate neutrality of business operations are collected annually in February to distribute the response burden.

Data on production limitations are already collected on a quarterly basis. 

Data collection

Data are collected via online surveys.

Data validation

Missing values are imputed with the average value of similar units (2-digit NACE reference group) and if possible with the respondent’s response on T-1 (see table 5.16.1)

For the EU BCS publication, responses on the response alternative “weather conditions” are combined with the response alternative “other factors”.

Data compilation

Multiple responses are not rescaled to 100 percent.

The collected data are extrapolated with weighting schemes in order to obtain the population totals. Statistics Netherlands compiles the tabulated outputs according to calculation rules and algorithms as prescribed in The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys User Guide. Derived data are then disseminated in custom tables.

Data adjustment

Figures are not seasonally adjusted because they are not deemed to be sensitive to seasonal influences.

ABR

General business register

BCS

Joint Harmonised EU Programme of business and consumer surveys

BTS

Business tendency survey

CBS

Statistics Netherlands

CSRD

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

CTS

Consumer tendency survey

DG ECFIN

Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs

EC

European Commission

EMU

Economic and monetary union

EP

European Parliament

EU

European Union

EZK

Dutch ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy

KVK

Dutch Chamber of Commerce

NACE

Classification of economic activities in the European Community

NHR

New trade register

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

SME

Small and medium sized enterprises

UN

United Nations

CBS (2023), Green Deal: CBS working with partners for sustainable development data

EC (2023a), Delivering the European Green Deal

EC (2023b), The joint harmonised EU programme of business and consumer surveys user guide (updated January 2023), European Commission Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, Brussels

EC (2023c), Consequences of climate change Visited May 20, 2023

EC (2019), The European Green Deal sets out how to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050, boosting the economy, improving people's health and quality of life, caring for nature, and leaving no one behind, Press Release, 11 December 2019, European Commission, Brussels

EP (2023), Green Deal: key to a climate-neutral and sustainable EU, Updated: 03-05-2023 11:32, Ref.: 20200618STO81513

EZK (2023), Verduurzaming industrie Visited May 22, 2023

OECD (2022a), Framework for industry’s net-zero transition: Developing financing solutions in emerging and developing economies, OECD Environment Policy Papers, No. 32, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD (2022b), Financing SMEs for sustainability: Drivers, constraints and policies, OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers No. 35, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD (2021a), Annex: Measuring non-financial business performance through the lens of the OECD well-being framework, 28 may 2021, draft working paper WISE/CSSP(2021)1/ANN1

OECD (2021b), "No net zero without SMEs: Exploring the key issues for greening SMEs and green entrepreneurship", OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers, No. 30, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD (2019), SMEs: Key drivers of green and inclusive growth, OECD Green Growth Papers, 2019-03, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD (2003), Business tendency surveys a handbook, OECD Publishing, Paris

Rijksoverheid (2023), Dashboard klimaatbeleid Visited May 22, 2023
https://dashboardklimaatbeleid.nl/viewer/jivereportcontents.ashx?report=mobiliteit_goederenvervoer

UN (2016), Handbook on economic tendency surveys, Statistical papers, Series M No. 96, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs
https://www.un-ilibrary.org/content/books/9789210577199/read