MAN moves to adopt green manufacturing, drive environmental sustainability

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has expressed readiness to support green manufacturing to reduce the negative impacts of production activities on the environment.

President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, made this known at the maiden edition of MAN’s Strategic Dialogue Session on Environment and Green Manufacturing in partnership with Natural Eco Capital, held in Lagos.

Describing green manufacturing as the current global phenomenon, whose importance in today’s business world remains enormous, he said the body is committed to encouraging and guiding its members to make significant progress in this regard.

To achieve this, he said, the association in January, created the Environment and Green Manufacturing Unit with the responsibility of creating awareness among MAN members on climate change issues and Environmental Management System (EMS).

He said the unit in providing members with strategies and necessary information needed to drive environmental sustainability was set to collaborate with relevant institutions and international agencies in achieving its mandates.

“This novel unit amongst other things, would guide and encourage the seamless transition of members’ manufacturing processes through the assistance of relevant agencies and organisations to an eco-friendlier production environment. This can be achieved through the utilisation of leading technologies and practices on the environment and create mechanisms for sustainable development. It will be supporting and facilitating the adaptation of clean and renewable energy by manufacturers, while encouraging them to build and develop capacity in the environment and green manufacturing,” he said.

In his keynote address, the Director-General, the National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, noted that air quality had become a major concern in many parts of the world. This, Jauro said, led to the need for growing awareness to address air pollution and its impact on public health and the environment.

He said that Nigeria, like many other countries, was already experiencing the impacts of climate change such as increasing temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and more frequent and severe extreme weather events (floods and droughts).

Jauro, however, said that Nigeria had since taken steps to implement climate mitigation and adaptation measures, including the development of renewable energy sources and sustainable land-use practices.

“Since the ratification of the Paris Agreement, Nigeria has been very forthcoming in turning ambitions into implementable policies and aligning its environmental regulatory regime with the goals of the Paris Agreement. There is a need to prioritise the implementation and enforcement of environmental regulations, as well as the development of policies and incentives to promote a low-carbon economy.

“Industries switching to cleaner technologies and transitioning to low-emission development are indispensable for achieving sustainable economic growth through pathways that yield reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other social, economic, and environmental benefits,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer, the Natural Eco Capital, Dr. Eugene Itua, said that the adoption of sustainable manufacturing was with enormous benefits and could engender competitiveness and a more resilient economy. He noted that there was a spectrum of efforts to be made toward sustainable manufacturing such as the use of renewable materials, modification of production processes, and use of reusable, biodegradable products.

“Industries must change their manufacturing process to minimise waste, conserve raw materials, and capture and reuse waste materials. We must also utilise new technologies involving incorporating more environmentally responsible technologies and equipment into your production process,” he said.