Green Business Initiative A Waste Prevention Project for SMEs - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Green Business Initiative – A Waste Prevention Project for SMEs

Keiron Phillips - OCLR

What is Green Business Initiative?

Project to drive waste prevention in SMEs Provision of support/tools to small business Number of elements/projects within GBI GBI aims to influence behaviour and generate outcomes Outcomes should be measurable

Overall Goal is show businesses examples of what can be done and help them to do it!

What is the need for the GBI?

“SMEs don’t think strategically.”

Chairman of a small business forum

Elements for a Successful Waste Prevention Project

Outside Technical Knowledge and Support Integration of new and existing networks Involvement of regional authorities Demonstration element Outside funding Company buy in “Heroes” driving the WP agenda in companies

Ethos of Green Business Initiative

Transparency and openness – trust is an issue “Greenbusiness.ie” - distinct identity, “independent” from EPA Emphasis on user friendliness, relevant content Holistic view (waste/energy/water) Integrated with other prevention projects (e.g. LAPD), linked to

• ther delivery groups (e.g. Local Authorities, Enterprise Ireland,

IBEC, Sectoral organisation etc.)

Recognition that businesses are profit motivated

What’s in it for me?

Ray – “I've done everything I've been asked to

• do. I didn't understand, but I've done it. I

haven't once asked what's in it for me.” Shoeless Joe – “What are you saying?” Ray – “I'm saying, ‘What's in it for me’?"

Kevin Costner – “Field of Dreams”

An Economists Viewpoint……

“Jeez Dude, these guys know all of this

stuff already. You can bet if there was money in it, these guys would be doing it already” Sean Blacklocke – Environmental Economist

“Cash on the Table”

A fundamental principle of economics Two economists went to lunch….

What’s actually in it for the business?

Increase profit through decreasing waste handling and disposal charges, reduced energy and water bills, more effective use of raw materials Access to specialist help Been “seen to be green” within sector and local community Legislative compliance Recognised award scheme for successful participation

GBI needs to help SMEs to recognise the advantages, and provide the tools to realistically realise them!

Main Current Elements of the GBI

Greenbusiness.ie Sectoral Study - Greening Irish Hospitality Case Studies Case Study Implementation Project – CSI Elements to come….. Further sectoral projects Waste Exchange Project Resource Tracker (through greenbusiness.ie) Award

“Greenbusiness.ie”

Focal point of tools and resources

Waste Audit Tool (WAT) Water Audit Tool (WaAT) Link to “Energy Map” (SEI Tool) Telephone/e-mail help lines Site visit and individual report tailored to individual business Legislative guidance in “non-legalese” terms Sectoral guidance Links/news etc Resource Efficiency Audit & Comparison Tool (REACT)

Public face and “brand” to GBI Enviros Consulting Ltd successful bidder

Greenbusiness.ie

“Greenbusiness.ie”

“Greenbusiness.ie

Waste Audit Tool

Step by Step guidance on how to measure waste

Podcast video clips Waste catalogue with illustrations Sectorally tailored Produces hard copy audit sheets Input data from your audit Produces a generic report on your waste profile Will allow updating and comparisons to be made to show improvement Integrates to site visit to maximise value

Water Audit Tool and Resource Tracking Tool to be similar

Waste Audit Tool

www.wasteaudittool.com

Changes to the RAW Tool

Made more appropriate to businesses Users able to update data fields more easily Volume/weight calculators added Baler calculator added? Rebranded to GBI Hints/Tips section made more relevant and prevention focussed Reports section streamlined and more indictors added Currently establishing users trials with SNS

Water Audit Tool (WaAT)

2 different elements to the WaAT Benchmarking tool

Comparator to similar businesses Allows businesses to see “how they are doing” Possible best practice benchmark?

Simple water balance tool

“water in/water out” Information from bills

Allows businesses to decide if water is a significant issue to them

Greenbusiness.ie – Forthcoming Milestones

WAT/WaAt development completed – May 08 User trials and feedback – May/June 08 Site Visit protocols developed – May 08 Soft launch/pilot phase – June/Dec 08 Full launch – Spring 09

Sectoral Studies

Detailed examinations of activities and best practice Provision of direct support to sectors Selection criteria to identify a mix of sectors

Producers of large amounts of waste Sectors with good existing structures/projects underway

Acknowledge and integrate with suitable existing guidance I.e. metal finishing, hotels/catering Greening Irish Hospitality – 4 year project, underway CTC/HSC successful bidders with “Green Fáilte Awards”

History of Green Fáilte Awards Has been in existence since 1999 Incorporated best practice from CGPP Operates in 7 Counties with c. 80+ members

Cork, Waterford, Limerick/Clare/Kerry, Carlow/Kilkenny

Supported by Chambers of Commerce, Local Authorities, Local Companies EPA funding for 4 years, c. €1.6m Total member target 2008 – 200+ See www.greenfailte.ie for details

Progress to Date

Launch event 23 April 2008, Clarion Liffey Valley Over 130 hotels, including Radisson SAS, Hilton, Clarion, Carlton, Talbot and others Radisson SAS adopted the scheme as its own Standard Possible benefits of project implementation may include:

• C. €1000 per room per year saving to hotels

€100m p.a. to hotels if best practice adopted >150,000 tonnes waste 4.5 million cubic metres of water saved 162,000 tonnes of CO2 saved

Template likely to be used in other sectors Green Fáilte to rebrand later in year

Case Studies

Panel of 12 consultants formed

Submit case studies they have worked on Recruit case studies from other sources and write them up for us (3 pages, strong financials) Bounty for each case study Take case studies from our projects and “direct market” them via CSI CSI is a demonstration project

Case Study Implementation – CSI

Feasibility Study of sector carried out by EPA Consultants selected Contact Plan worked out with sectoral representatives Initial demonstration visit Sign up of participants (10-15) Training & support (& mentoring) Follow up Write up as more case studies

Case Study Implementation – CSI

Cleaner Greener Production Programme – Phases 1-3 29 Case Studies carried out (in Phase 1) 4 case studies selected for scoping by EPA

Concrete pre-cast – (Unsuitable after scoping) Fish processing - Ongoing Hospitals – (Extension of Hotels and Hospitality?) Construction and Demolition – (Specialist Sectoral Study)

National Waste Exchange Schemes

Existing ROI Schemes

Dublinwaste.ie Jumbletown SNS pallet exchange scheme Macroom-e Waste Matchers

NI Scheme

National Industrial Symbiosis Project (NISP)

Feasibility of Looking at a national scheme

Challenges – critical mass Identifying matches Legislative constraints

Regional Schemes might be better?

Summary Tools/support provided so businesses can help themselves Development of stakeholder networks Emphasis on profit, payback times and user- friendliness When it comes to prevention, what’s good for business, is good for the environment Not a briefcase full of money, more a set of directions

Thank You

k.phillips@epa.ie