Industry hampered by own cleaner production vision
JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists acknowledge Indonesian industries' efforts to implement zero pollution production, but say it has been hampered by business considerations as well as the industries' own vision of what constitutes clean industry.
"To date there is no absolutely clean industry but the effort should be recognized and the industry's vision of clean production used as a goal to pursue," said Chandra Kirana, Toxic Campaign Advisor from Greenpeace International.
According to Chandra, public perception of environmental issues is generally of a conflict of interests between the public who suffer from pollution and industry.
What must be considered are the concerns of all stakeholders -- from industry itself to non-governmental organizations, about how to prevent further environmental degradation.
This stance, Chandra said, acknowledged that both the public and industry needed resources to support their livelihoods. The challenge was to maximize utilization of resources without further damaging the environment.
Chandra was speaking at a round-table conference, hosted by the Indonesia Cleaner Production Program (ICIP) at the Hyatt Aryaduta Hotel. It was attended by representatives from the business community, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government officials and academics.
ICIP is a partnership sponsored by the Indonesian government and the United States Agency for International Development. Launched on June 6, 1995, it seeks to share cleaner production technology with interested companies.
The ICIP provides industry with information and consultancy while supporting the government program to increase the quality of the environment.
Cleaner production aims to boost industrial production efficiency through the use of renewable or recycled materials, substituting hazardous with less hazardous materials as well as increasing industry's operational systems and working procedures.
"Maybe one day industry can apply the cradle-to-cradle production process," Chandra said referring to production processes which recycle and are clean. The "cradle-to-grave process" ends in toxic waste.
Clean production provides economic incentives for industry through lower production costs, and because it gives competitive advantages amid increasing demand for environmentally-friendly products.
Companies interested in increasing productivity can seek ICIP's assistance. If selected, ICIP will provide experts from the U.S. to determine the most appropriate technology for the company to adopt. The company should try to comply with the suggestions provided.
Liana Bratasida, Technical Development Director at the Environmental Impact Management Agency, said the round-table discussion was expected to evolve into an independent communication forum between multi-stakeholders.
The ICIP has in its first year of operation helped prevent pollution in 19 cases, and saved Rp 2.1 billion for a Rp 92 billion investment. It helped reduce liquid waste by 50 percent annually. ICIP plans to assist 50 companies across Indonesia in the next two years.
Garjito P. Sudirjo, a senior consultant from Redecon Resource and Development Consultants, told The Jakarta Post that an unconfirmed hypothesis claimed that good housekeeping of good industries might reduce industrial pollution by 15 percent.
Emil Salim, the former state minister of environment and population, told the conference to take heed of the forum. "Everyone can contribute to the quest for cleaner production industries," he said. (06)