Dubai: Small and medium industries in the UAE are capable of lowering their emissions by up to 10 per cent, and a centre focused on helping them do just that has been endorsed by the Ministry of Environment and Water.
Textiles, plastics, ceramics, paper and cardboard and dairy companies have made huge savings in money and emissions in Lebanon, where one of the most successful Clean Production Centres (CPC) in the Middle East has been in operation since 2003.
A UAE CPC has been approved in cooperation with the Regional Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in western Asia under the Ministry of Environment and Water's strategy for 2010 to 2012.
The aim of the centre will be to prevent pollution and to conserve renewable and non-renewable resources. Seminars were held earlier for the private and public sector on how to have a more environmentally friendly production line, in return for better efficiency and profitability.
Case studies
"Industries that have met the clean production criteria of the European Union and the US are now able to export to those countries," said Dr Ali Yacoub, director of the Lebanese Cleaner Production Centre, who was in the UAE to present case studies of companies he has worked with. In 2009, 25 companies from four different sectors made a combined saving of $1 million (Dh3.67 million).
"These small companies — usually with ten or fewer employees — can reduce their costs by seven to twelve per cent," said Yacoub. Emissions reductions are pegged at between 5 per cent and 10 per cent. "It's not just emissions that are being reduced, it is the waste streams of solid waste and waste water."
A CPC is responsible for promoting resource efficiency and cleaner production methods, technologies and systems. These contribute to an efficient use of natural resources, including materials, water and energy. The effort minimises waste and emissions, including those discharged into water, air or on land; and reduces risks to humans and the environment from the use of chemicals and disposal of chemicals used in industry.
Fareed Bushehri, regional industries officer from UNEP, said small to medium companies usually require the most help in streamlining their facilities to be environmentally friendly. "It has to be assessed but a CPC can lower CO² emissions by reducing pollution, increasing competitiveness and creating jobs. It's a step towards creating a green economy."
