To enhance the capacities of countries to assist SMEs develop and implement cleaner and Resource Efficient production programmes that will result in reduced manufacturing costs, lower pollution and improved health and safety performance.

 

In many developing countries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economic and industrial activity, contributing to approximately 75% to industrial activity. With increasing resource prices, it is becoming difficult for SMEs to sustain the high costs of energy, water, and material resources for production while remaining competitive in the market. In numerous developing countries, SMEs are often high polluters due to obsolete technology in their small-scale operations and/or the lack of efficient end-of-pipe pollution control systems.

Further, most countries lack the necessary institutional structures and capacity to provide the required technical support services to industries.

When limited institutional capacities exist, SMEs often suffer the most. These factors are the major drivers for the urgent need of a consolidated intervention to improve the resource efficiency of industrial production in many of the world’s regions.

The project commenced in 2009 and aims to achieve its goal by:
Enhancing the capacities of the NCPCs in the selected countries to provide technical support and input to selected pilot SMEs to improve the overall efficiency of their production processes from the life cycle perspective.
Producing an integrated electronic tool-kit package that will help SMEs to cope with Resource Efficiency issues related to water, energy, chemicals, wastes and materials; and adapted at national levels.
Undertaking national needs assessments on the state of resource efficiency
in SMEs.
Developing and implementing country industrial programmes on promoting/improving Resource Efficiency in SMEs.