Press Release
Environmental management support package for SMEs in electrical and electronic sector launched
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (January 19) launched a Support Package on Environmental Management Information and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) tailored made for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the electrical and electronic (E&E) sector.
The package was introduced to more than 100 participants of a seminar on the EMS for the sector today.
The Acting Deputy Director of Environmental Protection, Mr Elvis Au, said: "The support package and the seminar represent the efforts by the EPD to actively explore and develop ways and means to assist and facilitate SMEs in this aspect.
"They aim to help SMEs in the E&E sector understand the local and global environmental pressure from different stakeholders and stay competitive in the environmentally conscious world business market."
An SME study commissioned by the EPD and completed in 2001 concluded that the majority of ISO 14001 certified companies were large ones rather than SMEs and that about 83 per cent of the local SMEs had no or little knowledge on EMS/ISO 14001 EMS.
The SME study identified the construction sector and the E&E sector as high priority sectors which warranted support for EMS implementation.
Mr Au said the EPD had already launched a similar support package and held a similar seminar for the construction sector early last month.
The support package for the E&E sector includes a review of an updated environmental management information related to the latest trend in supply chain pressure in the sector, a set of user-friendly generic ISO 14001 EMS templates, and a user manual with sector specific practical examples for the E&E sector to facilitate their adoption and implementation of the ISO 14001 EMS.
There are many benefits of adopting EMS including fulfilling supply chain requirements, ensuring continual environmental improvement, helping reduce legislative non-compliance, improving company image, enhancing favourable customer relationship, reducing environmental risks, enhancing staff environmental awareness, and increasing financial savings resulting from resources saving and cost reduction.
The support package is produced in the form of a CD-Rom which is available at the EPD on the 28/F., Southorn Centre, 130 Hennessey Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
It has also been uploaded on the EPD website at http://www.epd.gov.hk.
The seminar today was organised by the EPD and jointly supported by the Environment, Transport and Works Bureau; the Business Environment Council; the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association; the Trade and Industry Department; the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; and a number of electrical and electronic companies.
The participants of the seminar were mainly from SMEs, academics, consultants and government departments.
End/Wednesday, January 19, 2005 |
