The research and practice have shown that cleaner production has implications for all types of businesses in different industries; it is effective in terms of economic, environmental and social issues. However, until now, many businesses still do not understand its importance and have not applied this tool.
At the workshop "Cleaner production and its benefits for business" recently held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Hanoi, the delegates focused on discussing cleaner production in industry, and outlined the advantages and difficulties in the cleaner production process in Vietnam today. The research and practice have shown that cleaner production has implications for all types of businesses in different industries; it is effective in terms of economic, environmental and social issues.
Cleaner production is the continuous application of integrated preventive strategies for the environment in production processes, products and services in order to improve ecological performance and minimise risks to humans and the environment. Specifically, cleaner production includes preserving materials and energy, eliminating toxic raw materials, and reducing the amount and toxicity of all emissions of waste at source. For products, cleaner production involves reducing the negative impact throughout the product lifecycle, from design to disposal. As for service, cleaner production brings about environmental factors in the design and development services.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, cleaner production helps improve resource and energy efficiency, provides the opportunity to reduce costs by reducing losses, increasing circulation and reuse. Cleaner production also contributes to improving the working environment; contributes to reducing the effluent load and meets the requirements of environmental protection. Cleaner production can be applied to businesses of all sizes and does not require a lot of money. Cleaner production is also not difficult to exercise, with the determined commitment and involvement of every level, every department and every person in business, associating cleaner production with the professional operations of the business.
Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh, Director of the Office for Business Sustainable Development (SD4B-VCCI), General Secretary of Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) said, raising consumer awareness use of environmental issues has led to a boom in demand for green products on the international market. Therefore, when the business has made efforts to realise the cleaner production, that business will now be able to open up new market opportunities and produce products with higher quality and can be sold for a higher price. Enterprises implementing cleaner production will meet the environmental standards, such as ISO14001, or the requirements of the market as eco-labels. Implementation of cleaner production assessment will help implement environmental management systems like ISO 14001 more easily.
However, in practice, the process of implementing cleaner production in Vietnam still faces some difficulties. It is in terms of awareness, many businesses are not fully aware of cleaner production, and regard cleaner production as environmental protection activities, so they are reluctant to participate in. Additionally, a paradox is that when they really understand about cleaner production and the benefits of cleaner production, businesses rely on the funding from the state. This thinking is completely wrong because reality has proved that money is not necessary when applying cleaner production.
According to many delegates at the workshop, to overcome these difficulties, in terms of policies, the State should have the appropriate policies to encourage businesses such as granting certificates for businesses applying cleaner production, and build standards for cleaning / environmental friendly products or assist information. On finance, there are now a number of preferential trade credit funds for adopting cleaner production.
In particular, activity should be most prioritised is technical support. Businesses often lack funds to implement cleaner production, so the technical assistance activities through training, consulting (soft support) will contribute to encouraging greater participation of businesses.
According to Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Director of Department of Technical Safety and Environment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, the agency is developing recommendations on developing environmental industry, which refers to the support for businesses in the implementation of environment-protection activities, counseling for environmental protection and recycling and reuse of waste. From that, they can encourage businesses to reduce waste at source regimen and reduce energy use.
For the businesses themselves, to help prevent and reduce the impact on the environment, businesses need to actively apply the synchronous solution, compliance with environmental laws in production activities by promoting improved machinery, application of new technologies and alternate materials having negative environmental impacts.
Anh Mai
Vietnamese
