The U.S. Department of State and the World Environment Center Launch Cleaner Production Partnerships (CPP) in Honduras
(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) San Pedro Sula, Honduras - March 1, 2012 - The World Environment Center (WEC) and the Office of Oceans, Environment and Science (OES) of the U.S. Department of State (DoS) announced today the launch of innovative partnerships between WEC and the Agroexport Federation of Honduras (FPX) and the Poultry Federation of Honduras (FEDAVIH), with the aim of improving the environmental and operational performance of the Honduran food processing and poultry sectors. This agreement, part of OES’s “Cleaner Production Private Sector Partnerships” program, was signed in October 2011.
The partnerships will enhance cleaner production and energy efficiency practices and technologies in local companies by reducing water and energy consumption, minimizing waste and raw material use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and maximizing operational savings. To achieve this, WEC will train selected small and medium-enterprises (SMEs) in Honduras and assist them in developing action plans to sustainably improve their manufacturing operations and environmental performance. The project is planned for 2 years.
Ernesto Samayoa, project director and WEC’s Director of Operations for Latin America, stated, “The project’s objective is to reduce companies’ environmental impacts, increasing the efficient use of natural resources while lowering business costs. A second objective is to improve the competitive advantage of participating companies in providing goods to the marketplace based on the application of best environmental and business practices.”
WEC will provide on-the-ground technical assistance in cleaner production (CP) and energy efficiency (EE) and will share best practices through forums such as roundtables, case studies and articles. An Executive Committee comprised of the main private sector associations, the Cleaner Production Center in Honduras (CNP LH) and relevant government ministries in Honduras will provide guidance on the project.
About World Environment Center
WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics; and honors industry excellence through its annual awarding of the Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. WEC is headquartered in Washington, DC, with regional offices located in China, El Salvador, and Germany. For more information please visit www.wec.org.
