Professional Documents
Culture Documents
06/10/2005
15:06
Page 2
AT A GLANCE
The Macroom-E Integrated Business and
Environment project was established in order to
develop a programme which, in conjunction
with the areas industrial base, will facilitate the
implementation of cleaner, greener production
practices over the coming years.
The programme will develop, promote and
integrate environmental sustainability into
every aspect of business practice as a means of
maintaining the gross margin of businesses;
increasing corporate environmental
responsibility and awareness; and supporting
business and socio-economic development
within the town of Macroom and its hinterland.
As part of the CGPP initiative, the Macroom-E
Charter: Integrated Sustainability of Business
and Environment was developed. This Charter
was introduced to a number of businesses in
the area to allow them to take advantage of
increased business and environmental
performance. It promotes a system that applies
the previously developed environmental tools
of life cycle analysis; design for environment;
metrics system audit methodologies and EU
legislation to support a mutually beneficial
business and environmental sustainability based
on cleaner production.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ABOUT MACROOM-E
2. Eco-effective manufacturing
4. Environmental auditing
5. EU legislation
6. Environmental metrics
These tools were utilised by a range of
companies in the locality. Each
participating companys performance
was advanced in the common areas and
required an improvement in energy
efficiency and waste management, with
site-specific projects developed through
the Environment and Business
Management Programmes (EBMP).
CGPP2004.6
06/10/2005
15:06
Page 3
PARTICIPANTS
EBMP
Macroom Town Council
The Square
Macroom
Co Cork
Follin Teo
Ballymakeera
Macroom
Co Cork
www.follain.com
Firebird Boilers
Ballymakeera
Macroom
Co Cork
www.firebird.ie
Alida Systems
IDA Industrial Estate
Coolcower
Macroom
Co Cork
www.alidasystems.com
ETEK
Kilnamartyra
Macroom
Co Cork
www.princeaugust.ie
CGPP2004.6
06/10/2005
15:06
Page 4
ACHIEVEMENTS
The project resulted in the development and compilation of
a management system for integrated business
environment, which would be suitable for transfer to other
businesses and organisations. Macroom-E offered SMEs the
opportunity to utilise the skills of a professional
environmental health and safety consultant to review the
impact of companies/organisations on the environment and
to assess the measures that might be taken to reduce this
impact while simultaneously ensuring that their business
becomes more efficient.
The application of environmental tools for the measurement
and control of the various parameters contributing to
potential environmental degradation, coupled with the
ability to link this to the financial performance and efficiency
of the organisation, is invaluable.
The implementation of the metrics system at each site has
allowed for quick and efficient tracking of resource
consumption and waste production in relation to units
produced, allowing evaluation of a monthly financial
analysis of total expenditure in that area. This gives
management the ability to rapidly ascertain the
environmental and financial efficiencies of the operation on
an ongoing basis, and to highlight any discrepancies that
may have arisen. It also allows companies to benchmark
their environmental performance against other companies in
their sectors.
LESSONS
Through the application of both the Charter and the
Environmental Tools, the Integrated Business and
Environmental System has empowered organisations to
increase their internal skills base and to identify areas where
a combination of improved business performance and
improved environmental performance supports the
profitability and competitiveness of the organisation.
Opportunities for business growth and improved product
development (based on a proactive approach to product,
market and environmental legislative requirements) have
been reviewed with the participants in this project.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on this project contact:
Noel O'Driscoll
Senior Executive Officer
Development Section
Cork County Council
County Hall
Cork
Tel: 021-428 5560
Fax: 021-487 7741
Email: noel.odriscoll@corkcoco.ie
John Lynch
Director and Principal Consultant
Hydronomics Ltd
Bealick Mill
Macroom
Co Cork
Tel: 026-42742
Fax: 026-42743
Email: info@hydronomics.ie
Web: www.hydronomics.ie
CGPP2004.6
06/10/2005
15:06
Page 1
CLEANER GREENER
PRODUCTION IS
the application of integrated preventive environmental
strategies to processes, products, and services to increase
overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the
environment.
Production processes: conserving raw materials and
energy, eliminating toxic raw materials, and reducing the
quantity and toxicity of all emissions and wastes
Products: reducing negative impacts along the life cycle
of a product, from raw materials extraction to its
ultimate disposal.
Services: incorporating environmental concerns into
designing and delivering services.
CLEANER GREENER
PRODUCTION REQUIRES
new attitudes, better environmental management, and
evaluating available technology options. We need to take
good environmental practice to the stage where it is an
inherent part of any business operation.
Better efficiency
Better business
Better environmental protection
Lower costs
Less waste
Less emissions
Less resource consumption
PROGRAMME MANAGERS:
The Clean Technology Centre (CTC) at Cork Institute of
Technology was appointed to manage the programme in
association with OSullivan Public Relations Ltd, and Energy
Transport Actions Ltd, (ENTRAC).
The CTC was established in 1991 and is now nationally and
internationally regarded as a centre of excellence in cleaner
production, environmental management and eco-innovation across
a range of industrial sectors.
Fax. 01 2680199
www.epa.ie
Email. ertdi@epa.ie
Printed on recycled paper using water based inks