Financial Times

Cleaner production works, companies save by cutting waste
By Quintus Perera
The National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka (NCPC) is trying hard to persuade industries not to pollute the environment by introducing the Cleaner Production concept (CP). The scheme is proving to be a success not only in reducing the impact on the environment but by saving a considerable amount by eliminating waste.

These details were revealed at a seminar organised by NCPC in Colombo last week to make the media aware of the concept and progress of CP in Sri Lanka.
Three industries who adopted the CP concept in sharing their experiences revealed that it not only afforded an immeasurable contribution to preserve the environment resulting in monetary saving but also encouraged the workers to work towards a common goal of improving productivity while almost completley eliminating labour disputes and creating industrial peace.

NCPC is a project of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Ministry of Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka
Marian Arsakularatne, Manager, Quality Assurance, Ceylon Cold Stores said that Elephant House had been plagued with constant labour disputes. But since the company got involved in CP to find out ways and means of eliminating waste in the factory, top management obtained suggestions from workers and the suggestions were adapted while those workers were rewarded.

In 2001 Sena Peiris, Director, NCPC visited the factory for a "Walk Through Audit" and he advised the company on how waste could be cut and valuable resources saved. Thus the beverage company was able to save millions of litres of water while the waste water is reused as a by-product. The company has saved Rs. 1 million a month by cutting down waste.

Peiris said NCPC has targeted 50 percent of the industries in Sri Lanka to adopt CP within the next three years. Their surveys and audits have proved that even the smallest industries could save up to half a million rupees by cutting down waste, if CP is adopted.

Ms. Geehanthie Weerasinghe, Technical Coordinator, NCPC said that CP is a concept that uses less raw material and produces more by cutting down waste.
She said that to produce a ton of paper 15 to 20 trees have to be felled. If e-mail is used for correspondence, lots of trees could be saved.

Lal Pushpakumara, Quality Controller/ Environmental Management, Rathkarawwa desiccated coconut mills revealed that by adopting the CP concept the mill has been saving around Rs. 8 million per year. Hilary Thyagaraja, Environmental Manager, Finitex Textile Finishing (Pvt) Ltd, part of the Brandix Grpup, said that after adopting CP they were able to conserve a large quantity of water, energy and other resources.

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