Firms need to implement environmental principles<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The participation of government agencies,
\nparticularly the Ministry of Industry, is needed to encourage
\nindustrial companies to implement principles of sound
\nenvironmental management, an environmental consultant says.<\/p>\n
Barry Little, the director of Aspects International of
\nBritain, said that given time and guidance industrial companies
\ncould obtain a sound production approach, enabling them to use
\nnatural resources in a more efficient way.<\/p>\n
\"Industries need to know that implementing the principles of
\nsound environmental management is financially profitable,\" he
\nsaid at the opening of an environmental management course here
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The two-day course, attended by executives of various
\ncompanies, also discussed the ISO-14000 standardization for
\nenvironmental management systems, which will be introduced next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Little said that the involvement of government agencies other
\nthan the office of the State Minister of Environment, such as the
\nMinistry of Industry, was required for law enforcement, close
\nmonitoring and guidance purposes.<\/p>\n
Last year in Britain, he said, a major project called Project
\nCatalyst was conducted jointly by 14 major companies, the
\nDepartment of Trade and Industry and a number of environmental
\nconsulting firms.<\/p>\n
The project, which involved a total investment of 900,000
\npounds, resulted in total annual savings of almost 10 million
\npounds.<\/p>\n
The savings represented an accumulation of many items,
\nincluding product modification, raw materials modification or
\nreduction as well as energy or utilities reductions.<\/p>\n
Among the participating companies were CMP Batteries Ltd., HJ
\nHeinz Company Ltd. and JW Lees & Co (Brewers) Ltd.<\/p>\n
CMP spent 175,000 pounds to increase the efficiency of its
\nwater usage and saved 175,000 pounds annually after using the new
\nsystem.<\/p>\n
Heinz, which prepares and packages foodstuffs, spent 25,000
\npounds to improve its cooker coolers. The improved system saved
\n50,000 pounds annually and energy costs associated with steam
\nlosses.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Lees saved 25,000 pounds a year after changing its
\nwater distribution and plumbing system, all of which was made at
\nzero cost.<\/p>\n
Little said that the environmental management systems which
\nare currently recognized are the British Standard (BS) 7750,
\nwhich was first introduced in 1992, and the Eco Management and
\nAudit System (EMAS), regulated by the European Union in April,
\n1995.<\/p>\n
Since 1991, however, a number of countries, including Canada,
\nFrance and South Africa, have developed their own environmental
\nmanagement system and others have adopted the BS 7750.<\/p>\n
ISO-14000<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the ISO-14000, an international standard developed
\nin 1993 by the Geneva-based International Organization for
\nStandardization, will be introduced next April. The ISO-14000
\nuses the BS 7750 as a model.<\/p>\n
Apart from overseeing environment management systems, the ISO-
\n14000 series also covers auditing, environmental performance,
\nevaluation, environmental labeling, life cycle assessments and
\nother environmentally related topics.<\/p>\n
Little emphasized that in introducing environmental management
\nsystems, industries must \"find out what they are responsible for,
\nwhat they use and what they produce\".<\/p>\n
\"They can't hide (environmental problems) forever. Greenpeace
\nand the public will find out sooner or later,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Little pointed out that industries can be persuaded to apply
\nenvironmentally-sound technologies if they understand that it is
\npossible to convert pollutants into marketable products and
\nincrease profits from the modifications made. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/firms-need-to-implement-environmental-principles-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}