Industry hampered by own cleaner production vision

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)