Chapter 2: Estonia

(continued)

2.2 Methodology

Sources of Information Used in the Survey

The information contained within this country report is based on 69 formal interviews with senior-level representatives of environmental businesses, government environment departments, R&D institutions and professional associations. Interviews were based on a standard questionnaire adopted for the entire survey (see Appendixes). Additional information sources included informal conversations, a desk-study of the available literature and various publications on the environment in Estonia.

Sources of information are referenced throughout the text with numbers (e.g. /17/) referring to the list of publications included in Section 2.11.

Profile of Respondents

For this survey, four target groups were identified:

Group I - Suppliers (companies providing technology and/or consulting services),
Group II - End-users (enterprises using environmental technologies and services),
Group III - Government environment departments (state and municipal),
Group IV - Professional and business associations, and NGOs.

Their responses are broken down in Table 2.2.

TABLE 2.2: BREAKDOWN OF RESPONSES
Group	Target group	Questionnaires Sent	Percent of Total Sent	Questionnaires Returned	Percent Returned

I	Suppliers	161	70%	39	24%
II	End-users	41	18%	8	20%
III	Government environmental departments	17	8%	4	24%
IV	Professional and business associations	9	4%	6	66%
Total		228	100%	57	25%

The term "environmental technology" is defined as being a piece of equipment or a process, and related services, that are available to prevent, minimize, render harmless, or remediate the environmental impacts of industrial or municipal activities. For the purpose of this work, only equipment and processes that result in the immediate improvement of the environment are concerned. The term "environmental service" is defined as any consulting service that is available to prevent, reduce and minimize the environmental impacts of industrial or municipal activities.

The research methods were applied in the following way:

Interviews
The interviews were carried out in person and by telephone. The questions asked were based on a questionnaire prepared by the REC (see Appendix I and Appendix II).
Questionnaire
The questionnaire was translated into Estonian and supplemented by a few additional questions gauging the intentions of end-users to introduce cleaner production or pollution reduction programs, environmental management systems or energy efficiency programs during the next three years.
The main sources of information used for shortlisting experts in the above four categories included:
- Suppliers - Keskkonnatehnika journal, business phone books (including Ettevotete Telefonikataloog 1997, Arikataloog 1997, Infoatlas 2/97), a list of licensed experts in environmental impact assessment obtained from the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and newspaper information.
- End-users - Four key sectors were selected: energy, food, metals and the chemical industry. Business telephone books were consulted (Ettevotete Telefonikataloog 1997, Arikataloog 1997, and Infoatlas 2/97).
- Governments - Contact information was taken from the REC's Government and Environment Directory and the Public Authorities telephone book of 1997.
- Professional and Business Associations - Telephone books were the most significant source (including Ettevotete Telefonikataloog 1997, Arikataloog 1997, Infoatlas 2/97).
Two hundred and twenty-eight (228) copies of the questionnaire were distributed by mail. In addition to the questionnaire, the mailing included a letter describing the objectives of the survey and guidelines for its completion. A postage-paid envelope was also enclosed for questionnaire return. A total of 57 questionnaires (25 percent) were returned.
Literature
A wide variety of literature was reviewed in the preparation of this report. The main sources of statistical data were publications of the Estonian Statistical Office (ESA) and personal contacts at the ESA departments. The economic data was verified with information received from the Bank of Estonia, their reports and bulletins. The annual publication Keskkond (The Environment) of the Ministry of the Environment was also used extensively. Articles from major newspapers provided information on current problems and reviews of environmental protection, environmental business and the general economy.

REC * PUBLICATIONS * ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY MARKET - BALTICS * ESTONIA