| A new shade of green is gradually sweeping across | | | | material wastage, management costs and delivery |
| China's export manufacturing industry, one that took a | | | | time. It smoothens production processes as well. "We |
| while to take root. | | | | calculate the exact unit consumption of fabrics and |
| Companies are riding the environment-friendly wave. | | | | accessories," Cynthia business manager Tony Tong |
| Pressure from the national government and tightening | | | | said. "We purchase strictly in proportion with the orders |
| regulations in overseas markets are compelling a | | | | to reduce wastage." |
| growing number of suppliers to modify their business | | | | Other production and purchasing decisions are also |
| strategies and incorporate ecologically safe processes. | | | | influenced by green principles. |
| The transition is neither extreme nor desperate, but the | | | | Video phone manufacturer Xiamen Leelen Technology |
| impact could be widespread as many midsize and | | | | Co. Ltd cooperates with the environmental services |
| small companies are also taking "green" initiatives. Due | | | | group ABB, a global engineering enterprise that |
| to the sheer number of these suppliers, they account | | | | promotes sustainable industrial productivity. |
| for a large portion of the pollution and wasteful | | | | Mindful of energy conservation, car amplifier exporter |
| practices in the country. | | | | Shenzhen Actiway Electronics Co. Ltd included power |
| Irrespective of size, companies are introducing | | | | saving as a criterion in selecting SMT machines. |
| long-term strategies anchored on recycling, waste | | | | Fujian Golden Vision LCD Science & Technology |
| reduction and sustainable energy adoption. | | | | Co. Ltd has designated one of its engineers to be |
| Recycling is the most common practice among | | | | responsible specifically for developing ways to reduce |
| factories, one that is carried out internally or through | | | | power, water and raw material consumption during |
| third parties. This, however, goes beyond reusing | | | | production. |
| offcuts and scrap materials. Highly polluting industries | | | | Some factories outsource processes that are |
| such as leather tanning have always been required to | | | | potentially hazardous to the environment. Lock |
| invest in wastewater cleaning systems, but very few | | | | companies in Zhejiang and Shandong provinces |
| actually do. Now, many are investing large sums in | | | | subcontract electroplating and paint coating to local |
| such facilities not only to comply with local ordinances | | | | specialists who are not only more capable but also use |
| but also as a marketing tool. This comes as an | | | | professional equipment that produces less pollution. |
| increasing number of buyers are including social | | | | In some industries, higher productivity is correlated |
| responsibility as a criterion in supplier selection. | | | | directly to waste reduction. Makers are emphasizing |
| Fujian Guanxing Leather Co. Ltd in Shishi, a city under | | | | worker training to upgrade efficiency, trim down |
| the municipality of Quanzhou in Fujian province, has | | | | defects and reduce wastage. |
| invested $3 million in a 6,000-ton capacity wastewater | | | | But green manufacturing still has its obstacles. |
| processing station. Once operational, the facility is | | | | Often suppliers are not motivated enough to adopt |
| expected to save the company $1.4 million annually. | | | | sustainable practices in production. Unless required by |
| In fact, waste recycling is becoming the norm in the | | | | buyers, any effort to introduce ecologically safe |
| city, one of the major garment and textile hubs in the | | | | processes is only deemed as an unwarranted cost. |
| province. More than 20 manufacturers have now | | | | For such businesses, compliance with RoHS, WEEE |
| installed treatment systems such as those from | | | | and other regulations is sufficient in showing their |
| Carrousel. The majority of Fujian factories that dye | | | | environmental commitment. |
| fabrics in-house have similar facilities for their | | | | Greenpeace keeping a scorecard |
| sewerage as well. Moreover, several local | | | | In October 2009, a report by Greenpeace highlighted |
| governments have set up complementary | | | | the elevated pollution levels in the Pearl River in |
| wastewater recycling services to help ensure a | | | | southern China. As the main source of drinking water |
| continuous supply of fresh water. | | | | for about 4.7 million residents, the estuary is where |
| When it comes to material refuse, many large | | | | thousands of factories dump their waste as well. A |
| enterprises contract professional disposal services. | | | | high-level cocktail of beryllium, copper, manganese, |
| Small and midsize businesses often transact with | | | | BPA, alkylphenols and other hazardous chemicals |
| recyclers and junkyard operators. | | | | were discovered in analyzed samples from eight cities |
| Guangdong Weiermei Underwear Co. Ltd, for instance, | | | | around the river. |
| sells fabric cutoffs to waste collectors. Watch | | | | The report also enumerated the noncompliance of at |
| exporter Shenzhen Full Success Gift Mfg Ltd and lock | | | | least 18 major private locally owned and multinational |
| specialist Make Locks Manufacturer Ltd vend metal | | | | companies in the Fortune Global 500 or the China 100 |
| scraps to recyclers. | | | | list with pollution disclosure rules implemented by the |
| Some companies involve customers in their green | | | | Ministry of Environmental Protection in May 2008. |
| efforts. On request, Shenzhen FJY Electronic Co. Ltd | | | | Samsung, Nestle, LG, Motorola and Sinopec were |
| uses recycled materials during production. Doing so has | | | | among the companies cited for exceeding emissions |
| the additional benefit of lowering unit costs. | | | | standards and failing to publish their pollution data within |
| Adopting degradable materials, however, does not | | | | 30 days after being blacklisted as the rule required. |
| always bring a similar effect. In the beauty and | | | | Greenpeace has been active in helping monitor and |
| cosmetics industry, bottles made from such | | | | expose environmentally destructive practices in China. |
| substances are about 20 percent more expensive | | | | Its media reports have helped pressure manufacturers |
| than conventional plastic. | | | | to adopt more eco-friendly systems and for local |
| While recycling and reusing are gaining more | | | | governments and enforcement agencies to implement |
| adherents, only a handful of operations are tapping | | | | laws and tighten standards. |
| sustainable energy sources such as wind or solar | | | | The group, however, admitted its own limitations as it |
| power. Cynthia Garments Making (Dalian) Co. Ltd has | | | | failed to include hundreds of thousands of small |
| taken steps to do so by using solar water heating at | | | | operations that are also heavy polluters. |
| its workers' dormitories. | | | | |
| Management disciplines strengthen sustainable | | | | This article was originally published by Global Sources, |
| practices | | | | a leading business-to-business media company and a |
| In an effort to cement their commitment to | | | | primary facilitator of trade with China manufacturers |
| environment-friendly manufacturing, many suppliers are | | | | and India suppliers, providing essential sourcing |
| acquiring ISO 14001:2004 certification and implementing | | | | information to volume buyers through our e-magazines, |
| ERP, 5S, 8S and 3R systems. Doing so lessens raw | | | | trade shows and industry research. |