Heed ecolabeling rules, manufacturers told<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Both the current and the former environment
\nminister are warning industrialists that if they do not heed the
\ntrend of the global market and begin producing environmentally
\nfriendly goods, they will loose out in the arena of international
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
\"Whether we like it or not, that is the wind of change,\" Emil
\nSalim told participants at a seminar on ecolabeling and the
\nglobal environment yesterday.<\/p>\n
Emil said running a business now needs more than just
\nefficient production strategies but also a willingness and
\nability to protect the environment and the rights of their
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
He said that global consumers do not just consume products,
\nbut are now concerned about the impact the producers are making
\non the lives of their workers and the environment.<\/p>\n
Before buying a product, they now ask: Does its manufacture
\nharm the environment? Are the company's workers treated with
\nrespect? Are they free to unionize? How much are they earning?<\/p>\n
These concerns for the environment and human rights, Emil
\nsaid, exist among consumers in the world's biggest market -- the
\ndeveloped countries.<\/p>\n
The business community should pay attention to the trend so as
\nnot to be taken by surprise by outside pressure such as the
\nrecent U.S. threat to revoke the nation's inclusion in the GSP
\n(generalized system of preferences), he said.<\/p>\n
\"Catch the wind of change and act,\" he said. \"Don't react only
\nto pressure.\"<\/p>\n
The importance of environmental issues can also be seen by the
\ncurrent discussions on the need for environmental standards
\nsimilar to that of ISO 9000, a series of guidelines and standards
\non quality introduced by the International Standardization
\nOrganization.<\/p>\n
The ISO 9000 covers a product's quality without concern for
\nthe impact of its production, leaving room for talk of
\nintroducing an ISO 18000, which will address the issue of
\nresource management.<\/p>\n
On the ecolabeling of tropical forest products, Emil said
\ncurrently the Forestry Stewardship Council has embraced three
\ngeneral principles: sustainable forestry management, social
\nbenefits for indigenous people, and decreasing the impact on
\nwater, soil and biodiversity.<\/p>\n
But the criteria to measure the adherence to the principles
\nhas not yet been formulated, which is where a working group led
\nby Emil comes into play.<\/p>\n
He said his group is now gathering suggestions from all
\nparties on what the criteria should be.<\/p>\n
Later an independent ecolabeling body will be formed -- Emil
\nhas been suggested as chair -- which will assess the quality of
\nthe environmental and ecomanagement systems of industrial and
\nforestry companies.<\/p>\n
He said producers are pressing for the establishment of an
\necolabeling system soon because they want to make sure they have
\naccess to the European market after ecolabeling becomes a
\nrequirement there.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said in
\nhis opening speech that if Indonesian business keeps relying on
\ncheap labor and resource abundance, and neglecting environmental
\nmanagement, consumers -- increasingly environmentally-sensitive
\n-- will turn to other producers.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said this year's monthly exports of non-oil goods are
\nso far equal to or less than last year's levels. Though this
\ncould solely be the effect of the increasing numbers of
\ncompetitors, in the future, consumers' preferences will become a
\ndecisive factor.<\/p>\n
The minister says since the country's exports depend on its
\nresources, resource management should be a high priority.<\/p>\n
On this point he admitted that Indonesian officials still have
\ndifferent opinions. Some still rely on the comparative advantage
\nof low wages, which no longer holds since countries such as China
\nand Vietnam have lower wages.<\/p>\n
Sarwono regretfully recalled appeals from another government
\nagency to slacken environmental rules to boost exports. \"It
\nshould be the other way around.\" (smb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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