Cleaner Production Opportunities in the Chemicals Industry (CPOCI)

Objectives:

This project has been commissioned to identify opportunities for improving the environmental performance of the Chemical Industry and to establish a Chemical Industry Working Group (CIWG).

It will be managed through the Advanced Manufacturing Centre in a joint partnership with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority.

Strategies:

1. Up to 10 chemical companies and stakeholders, will be selected to participate in the CIWG
2. Through a series of 3 monthly meetings, the group will identify the key environmental issues facing the industry today
3. The group will identify opportunities for a Chemical Industry/EPA jointly funded Cleaner Production Industry Partnership Project with an implementation focus.
4. The AMC will be the facilitator of the project, but the outcomes will be created by the participants

Outcomes:
At the completion of the project, the working group will have:

· Established an experienced CIWG that can work effectively with other industry members to solve common problems.
· Identified the key issues in Chemical Industry's current cleaner production status, and outlined the opportunities, barriers and incentives to achieve environmental improvements in the industry
· Established the basis for applying for a NSW EPA Cleaner Production Industry Partnership Project
· Documented its findings in a report on the project and distributed it to all participants (by AMC)

Benefits to Participants:

Chemical Industry participants in the working group will be encouraged to take advantage of the project benefits within their own organisations, including:
· No cash cost to participants
· Working and networking with members of their industry under creative conditions
· Brainstorming within the CIWG common cleaner production issues
· Opportunity to participate in feedback of industry information to the EPA to encourage an industry-aware approach by the EPA toward the Chemical Industry
· Opportunity to identify cleaner production projects for their own organisation that could be eligible for assistance from existing NSW EPA grants

Commitment from Participants:

There will be an expectation for the participants to:
· attend and participate in the three workshop meetings
· contribute fully towards developing a view on the Chemical industry's current environmental position
· offer insights of their own organisation's environmental experiences, knowledge & position in the industry
· share information to allow the working group to build up a knowledge base from which to draw conclusions

Further information on Cleaner Production Opportunities in the Chemicals Industry may be obtained through the Advanced Manufacturing Centre:
Margie Kennard
CPOCI Project Coordinator
Advanced Manufacturing Centre
Phone 02 9209 4210
Fax 02 9209 4470