KOLKATA: Experts from Jadavpur University and Aston Business School, UK, will be helping a dozen small-scale units in the state turn green. They will be hand-holding these units as they go about reducing their carbon emission, energy and raw material consumption and seek to recycle their wastes.
Part of an initiative titled 'Climate change issues and environmental performance of small and medium-sized organizations in India and the UK'. A 12-member mentoring committee has been formed with teachers from Jadavpur's mechanical engineering department and the Centre for Quality Management, Aston Business School and experts from abroad. Small-scale units are believed to be responsible for around 30% of the pollution.
The idea, according to Sadhan Ghosh of Centre for Quality Management and 'India Leader' of the initiative, is to ensure that the smaller units can sustain their business without polluting the environment. "The initiative stresses on sustainability and reduction of emission. Smaller units often end up polluting to stay afloat. They don't tend to care too much about pollution norms and are rarely screened. Under this project, we will teach them 'lean and green' manufacturing techniques that will help them to raise profitability even as they stick to environmental norms. We will teach and convince them that going green can actually reduce costs in the long-run," said Ghosh.
Prasanta K De of Aston Business School is the UK head of the initiative, which follows a two-year study — funded by British Council under UKIERI (UK India Educational Research Initiative) — on SMEs in India and UK. The study reveals that 81% of smaller units in India, including in Bengal, believe they consider and carry out their environmental responsibilities. But the ground reality doesn't match their claims, the study points out.
While a dozen units have been selected, 10 more will be added to the list at the end of the first phase of the project after 18 months. A 'balanced score card-based sustainability performance measurement model' has been developed for the purpose. It considers an appropriate trade-off among operational, economic, environmental and social factors using multiple criteria decision-making technique. "We have also undertaken 15 case studies in each country through analyzing their supply chain characteristics, identifying issues and challenges, and measuring sustainability performance," said Ghosh.
Simple steps can help change the way an SME is run, according to the experts. Waste water treatment, recycling of solid wastes, curbing toxic wastes like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and sulphide can go a long way in making the manufacturing units environment-friendly, they say. "Minor changes like reducing the consumption of raw material can not only reduce input costs, but also help to lower energy consumption," explained Ghosh.
The selected units — which will collectively spend Rs 5.5 crore on the initiative — will be mentored from March. Other than suggesting alterations, the mentors will also help the units assess their impact and tailor them to suit their needs. Several pollution experts and green researchers from abroad who have been part of projects undertaken by Jadavpur University are expected to join the mentoring panel.
Nine months later, the performance of the units will be assessed. Those found wanting will be asked to adopt stricter measures. "We will then invite 100 SMEs for a seminar and showcase those who have been doing it right. They can serve as examples for the rest in the state to follow," said Ghosh.
