Cleaner Production Clubs
Training

Principles of cleaner production may be applied to processes, products and services with the objective of increasing overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the environment. Cleaner Production Clubs (CPC) focus on the respective principles. For companies participating in CPC, the basics of cleaner production are adapted to their individual needs.

Driving force for the establishment of CPCs is a win-win approach. Participants benefit from mutual backing while exchanging experiences on production activities. Expected economic benefits and reduced environmental pollution motivate the involved companies to participate in collective arrangements which are expected to lead to improved production activities on the level of the enterprises as well as improved living and working conditions in and around industrial areas.

The tool helps to increase human resource capacities and capabilities, fosters the exchange of experiences, creates synergies, gains cost savings, increases performance and profit, and reduces the environmental impact.

Main features and components

Training and coaching of facilitators (participants from local institutions and partners): Participants are qualified to guide the CPCs as well as select suitable companies for further proceedings.
Training and coaching of companies for CPCs: Committed companies have to be trained in cleaner production issues in order to manage the CPC efficiently. The basic training can be supplemented by topics like good housekeeping, energy efficiency, etc.
Companies are asked to conduct internal assessments and cause analyses, develop case studies, implement selected improvements, and share the experience with other club members.

Implementation / work steps

Establishment of the club supported by a CPC’s facilitator: recruitment process, memberships, election of speakers
Running of the CPC: workshops and trainings, followed by networking meetings
Technical assistance: CP tool customisation according to the requirements of each company (company visit)
Identification and implementation of measures
Brochures for different sectors documenting success stories

Requirements

Willingness to cooperate between companies
Motivation and available human resources of participating club members
Trained facilitators with capacities both in terms of management and technical aspects

Lessons learnt

Activities can be hampered by the following factors:

Functionality depends on the specific point of departure: In Indonesia, the recruitment method for the establishment of the clubs was altered to the ‘door to door’ system, which is based on conducting informative meetings in each industry. The facilitator prepares the establishment of the CPC and supports the individual companies on a case-by-case basis.
Awareness raising and cleaner production trainings are essential to attract companies and estates for participation; a combination of trainings and regular club activities is required. Without these trainings the entire idea of self-organizing CPCs would be at risk.
A mixture of related tools is recommended: A combination of Cleaner Production Clubs (CPC), Stakeholder Dialogues (SD), and Sustainable Management of Industrial Areas (SMIA), for example.
During a project in the context of the EU Asia Pro Eco II Programme in Indonesia, 78 companies have been involved in CDC activities and the tool has been adapted for the internal application. The establishment of 7 clubs with 78 member companies employing a total of 51,000 people fostered environmental and non-competitive issues. The initial recruitment of CPC members from solely one industrial area failed. In order to achieve a critical number of companies during the starting phase, a combination of companies hailing from various sites to form a CPC has been pursued.