Session

III Sustainable Production and Resource Efficiency

III.S1 Exchange of experiences in the field of resource efficiency in Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME)

zu den Session Ergebnissen

Datum: 24/09/2008
Zeit: 11:00 - 12:30
Ort: Hall F.2

Zielgruppe: Industry (Companies), Science (Research + Development), Administration (Politics, Legislation)

Ziele:

Exchange of experiences on the basis of best practice examples from industrial companies Motto: “Identify Ideas – Developing outlines – implement projects – prepare actively sustainability”

Format: Moderated presentation session
Sprache: Englisch

Project results from four nations (Germany, Czech Republic, United States and Wales) are presented as single presentations. In the focus thereby above all small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) which took part in projects to increase resource efficiency and achieved successful results. The integration of the members of staff is thereby likewise one aspect as the regional distribution of consulting offers for SMEs.

With a view of the results and successes obtained so far it becomes clear that it is worthwhile itself more for the operational efficiency to do. More innovation, more motivation for the members of staff and a strengthening of the competitiveness on national like international markets are important sustainability factors.

Session Chair

Sittel, Henning H.
Effizienz-Agentur NRW; PIUS-Netzwerk, Duisburg, Deutschland

Beiträge

Evaluation on the Effectiveness of the Programme for improving Material Efficiency in German SMEs
Kolberg, Sandra
Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie GmbH, Forschungsgruppe "Nachhaltiges Produzieren und Konsumieren", Deutschland
Download der Präsentation (106 KB)

A New Model for Environmental Protection – the Amended Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 2006
Luskin, Jack
Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts, USA

Complex Diagnosis of Potential for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) Innovations in Enterprises
Najmanova, Klara
CINA, Czech Environmental Information Agency, Tschechische Republik
Download der Präsentation (262 KB)

Regional Perspectives on Capacity Building for Ecodesign and Resource Efficiency
O'Connor, Frank
Ecodesign Centre Wales, Groß-Britannien
Download der Präsentation (288 KB)

Efficiency Awareness – Prerequisite for Resource Management in Companies
Schmidt, Mario
Institut für Angewandte Forschung - Hochschule Pforzheim, Fakultät für Wirtschaft und Recht, Deutschland
Download der Präsentation (509 KB)

Optimizing Manufacturing Processes
van Keken, Ton
InterfaceFLOR Europe, Deutschland

Session Ergebnisse

Speakers input

KOLBERG, Sandra:

• governmental programme on material efficiency with three pillars:
• Material efficiency award
• a programme on consultancy for SMEs in order to improve their productivity and economic profitability by an increased material efficiency (VerMat)
• a programme that supports the constitution of networks, primarily for SMEs (NeMat)
• erscp 2008 gives the possibility for discussions on specific aspects regarding the programme’s design and its outcomes as well as its possible transferability

LUSKIN, Jack:

• Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Act (1989) passed
• amendments of the TUR in 2006
• discussings gains from the Original Act and and the regulations promulgated under the new amendments
• overview of new training programs to support companies

NAJMANOVA, Klara:

• report of experiences of two czech integrated programmes for scp, including:
• Cleaner Production Assessment
• Ecolabelling
• Environmental Management Systems
• Life Cycle Management
• Social Responsibility
• Eco-design
• Monitoring and Targeting
• Green Purchasing
• Environmental Management Accounting
• the methodology of this holistic approach is implemented at four basic levels:
• products
• processes
• systems
• stakeholders
• the new integrated diagnosis enables to find the most significant problems and subsequently appropriate solutions

O'CONNOR, Frank:

• SCP requires radically new perspectives on reducing the life cycle impacts of the production, distribution and consumption of products and services
• examples for eco design in Wales:
• establishment of ecodesign benchmarks in an electronics manufacturer
• cradle to cradle design in a furniture manufacturer
• commercialisation of low carbon technologies
• transitioning of a food producer to more sustainable business practices

SCHMIDT, Mario:

• a kind of "Efficiency Awareness" is necessary in society, because pointed out potentials in resource management stay often unused
• this kind of behaviour is certainly possible and can also achieve major success

VAN KEKEN, Ton:

• staff education and training are paramount measures for triggering operational changes
• the leading manufacturer of modular floor coverings aims to become the first genuinely sustainable company by 2020