For quality or awards?<\/p>\n
Puji Astuti, The Jakarta Post, Contributor<\/p>\n
How many of you and your neighbors have no refrigerators at
\nhome? How many of us do our laundry without the use of harmful
\ndetergents? How many of us use plastic products and later throw
\nthem away?<\/p>\n
We all know the answer and the sort of damage we are
\nindirectly responsible for every day to our environment. But it
\nis so difficult to refrain from using such convenient-but-harmful
\nitems in our life.<\/p>\n
The above prelude might help illustrate our careless attitude
\ntowards the environment.<\/p>\n
The issue has long been known to many, such as people in
\nwestern countries, NGOs and nature lovers, but is still
\nrelatively new to some. The environmentalists endlessly urge
\npeople from all walks of life, from consumers to producers, to
\nalways weigh the consequences, of any products and services we
\nuse or produce, with a proper regard for the environment.<\/p>\n
"In our society, such awareness has not developed into a
\nculture, whereas it is high time for us to begin conserving from
\nthe smallest things. Otherwise, we and our future generation will
\nend up suffering the most," said Ilyani A. Sudrajat, a researcher
\nat the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).<\/p>\n
People in developed countries are already in love with
\nenvironmental-friendly terms, such as "biodegradable",
\n"recyclable" and "reuse", hence it is only natural that they
\napply very strict standards for services, products and their
\nmanufacturing processes.<\/p>\n
It is difficult for services and products not conforming to
\nthese standards to enter these countries. The standards meant
\nhere are stipulated in the International Standard Organization
\n(ISO). The ISO 14000 series is used for environmental standards
\nfor products and services.<\/p>\n
Though it has become an absolute prerequisite, the desire to
\nacquire this certificate is still very low here in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Maleco and Sucofindo - two companies accredited by the
\nNational Standardization Body (BSN) for the issuance of the ISO
\n14000 certificates - have recorded only 22 companies with such
\ncertificates.<\/p>\n
This situation is quite embarrassing, because in 2003 the
\nworld will completely turn into a free market, which will
\nconsequently impose strict product and process standards.<\/p>\n
"In facing global free trade, we have stipulated certain
\nstandards for industrial products: ISO 9000 and ISO 14020 for raw
\nmaterials and the production process must strictly adhere to the
\nstipulations in ISO 9000 and ISO 14001," said BSN promotion head
\nBudi Rahardjo.<\/p>\n
Therefore, being awarded an ISO certificate would enhance a
\ncompany's competitiveness, particularly among customers in
\ndeveloped nations.<\/p>\n
PT Mustika Ratu, a leading traditional herbal medicine and
\ncosmetics manufacturer, for example, recorded an average increase
\nof 24 percent in its sales this year after being granted an ISO
\n14000 for environment-friendly work.<\/p>\n
"Apparently the clamor in the country's economics and politics
\ndid not affect Mustika Ratu, as it has shown a positive and
\nassuring growth," said Mooryati Soedibyo, the company's president
\ndirector.<\/p>\n
But not all companies strive to apply the standards of ISO
\n14000 to increase their sales.<\/p>\n
PT Sony Indonesia, for example, according to K. Morisawa, its
\nmarketing advisor, applies the environmental management standards
\n(ISO 14001) not to increase sales, but to conform to the
\nstandards laid down by its parent company, Sony Group in Japan.<\/p>\n
PT Aneka Tambang has another reason. Its director, D. Aditya
\nSumanagara, said his company implements ISO 14000 to realize its
\nvision and mission in producing quality products while at the
\nsame time caring for and preserving the environment.<\/p>\n
In the petrochemical industry, PT Tri Polyta is the first
\ncompany to be awarded an ISO 14001 certificate here. They use
\npolypropylene, a transparent glass-like material, which is
\ncheaper and safer for the environment.<\/p>\n
In the automotive sector, PT General Motors Indonesia, is one
\ncompany with a strong commitment toward the environment. After
\nacquiring the ISO 9002 in 1998, they are now upgrading the
\nstandards of operations to the level of ISO 14001.<\/p>\n
In addition to those examples of companies complying to
\ncertain standards, several international and domestic NGOs are
\nalso actively promoting the care for environment. Kehati, for
\ninstance, and NGO working for a clean world, presents the Kehati
\nAward annually. For its 2001 award, PT Sido Muncul came up as the
\nwinner in the "Peduli Lestari (Care and Preserve) category.<\/p>\n
Since 1992 this manufacturer of herbal medicine has integrated
\ncultivation and development of medicinal plants into its economic
\nmission. The company has also experimented with developing
\nmedicinal plants using in-vitro cultivation methods and
\ncultivation of rare and new plants, which have a high market
\nvalue. The solid waste produced at the PT Sido Muncul factory is
\na number of by-products including processed animal food, soil for
\ngrowing edible mushrooms as well as organic fertilizer, while the
\nliquid waste is used to "water" medicinal crops on the factory's
\ngrounds.<\/p>\n
Now, what about us, the average consumer? Whatever our
\nattitude, it will and should have an effect on the attitudes of
\nbusinesses toward the environment.<\/p>",
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