Projects
GOJ/CIDA ENACT Programme
Project Date: 11 January, 2004
The Jamaica Manufacturers’ Associated Limited (JMA) has partnered with the GOJ/CIDA Environmental Action (ENACT) Programme since 2004 to undertake the projects ‘Promoting Environmental Business Management in the Private Sector’ and ‘Environmental Management in the Private Sector…Creating Sustainable Businesses’.
DOCUMENTATION AND TRAINING Under this Programme the JMA has conducted Seminars on ‘Natural Capital, Eco-Efficiency and Profitability’, ‘Environmental Management Systems …An Approach Towards Cleaning Kingston Harbour…Demonstrating Corporate Environmental Responsibility’, ‘Tourism, Manufacturing and the Environment’, ‘Emerging Issues in Trade and Environment: Can Manufacturers and Civil Society Cope?’ A strategic paper was also written entitled ‘Exploring Issues and Opportunities for Enhancing the Competitiveness of Jamaica’s Manufacturing Sector through Energy Management’. From this paper came four main recommendations:
1. Adoption Of Energy Management Processes and Programmes
2. Development And Implementation Of Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
3. Investments In Cleaner Technologies
4. Substitution of Conventional Energy Sources
The JMA also collaborated with the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) and delivered a 45-hour training course ‘Environmental Business Management’ which was delivered over a twelve week period through MIND’s Internet Based Training Programme ‘MIND Online’. The Course covered six modules including:
1. The Need for Good Environmental Stewardship in Business
2. Steps Towards Greening Business Operations
3. Environmental Management Tools for Action In Organizations
4. Environmental Management System as a Management Tool
5. Developing And Implementing Environmental Management Systems
6. Trade and Environment Issues
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
In March 2006, fifteen persons from the private sector and government institutions participated in a study tour to Canada which focused on environmental management systems and corporate social responsibility and was designed to expose participants to environmental standards, co-generation, procurement and social practices in Canadian firms, as well as to garner insight from these companies on their sustainability policies and lean manufacturing programs.
The Canadian companies visited have adopted EMS or similar programmes which promote energy, water conservation and waste management as well as utilize environmental technologies to minimize adverse impacts on the environment. The companies visited were Nature’s Path, Novex Couriers, Canexus Ltd. Montenay Inc. and Cloverdale Paint.
The team also attended North America’s preeminent Globe Trade Fair and Conference, on Business and the Environment. The Conference, which targets primarily the private sector, aims at promoting innovative technology and building awareness on key environmental issues such as corporate social responsibility, sustainability management, triple bottom line accounting etc. The JMA in 2006 also concentrated on developing and implementing EMS in ten (10) private sector companies. The following activities were completed:
1. Conducting Initial Environmental Review (IER)
2. Workshops to sensitization staff to environmental management systems/ISO 14000
In 2007-08, five (5) companies will be offered technical assistance to become ISO 14000 certified and to implement Environmental Management Programmes.
Sponsored in part by the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPSCo).