Major Group: Business & Industry
[Need to structure intervention to reflect/respond to earlier discussion during the roundtable]
The Business and Industry Major Group is committed to working with all stakeholders to
improve sustainable development outcomes for chemicals and waste. Our discussions to date
at this session of the Commission have identified significant progress in this regard, but several
constraints and obstacles to achieving the sustainability objectives outlined at WSSD remain.
In the chemicals sector, these include lack of capacity in certain parts of the world to effectively
manage chemicals, and ensuring that mechanisms are in place to ensure effective chemicals
management across the supply chain and throughout the product lifecycle. The private sector is
working with other stakeholders through various mechanisms, including the SAICM process, to
address these constraints through capacity building and strengthening product stewardship and
sustainable business practices globally.
Waste management also has a critical role to play in sustainable development. The private
sector supports moves to encourage waste minimization, and more efficient use and more
extensive reuse of materials by viewing recyclable wastes, such as e-waste, as valuable
resources. Waste, such as biomass from the pulp and paper industry, can also be an important
source of energy. It is important that high standards of waste management are achieved and
the range of options available is kept as wide and flexible as possible.
In addition, the private sector has an important role to play as a solutions provider for
sustainable development. The chemical industry?s primary contributions in this regard include
chemical safety, innovation, and capacity building. In addition, the chemical industry helps to
provide sustainable development solutions for other industry sectors, including energy,
information technology and environmental industries, as well as the transport, mining and
waste sectors that share the spotlight at this CSD session.
Industry sectors such as mining and chemicals also contribute to sustainable development by
using energy to save energy. For example, the chemical industry is the principal supplier of
energy efficient materials worldwide, from insulation to materials for wind and solar power.
Through Responsible Care®, it has a shared commitment to continuously improving energy
efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its operations.
Private sector technologies also make alternative energy technology possible, protect and clean
the world?s drinking water and other natural resources, and help lower GHG emissions.
To give an example, an International Council of Chemical Associations life-cycle analysis study
released in 2009 (based on independent analytical work by the consulting firm McKinsey and
Associates, and validated by the Öko Institute) reveals that GHG emission savings enabled by the
chemical industry are more than double the industry?s emissions, i.e. products of the chemical
industry enabled GHG savings 2-3 times greater than their emissions.
To conclude, the private sector has a unique role to play in promoting sustainable development.
Its products and technologies will have a major role in preserving our resources for future
generations through reducing emissions, conserving energy, and developing more sustainable
materials, technologies, and business practices. Business and Industry is a major contributor to
green jobs and the green economy.
The Business and Industry Major Group is committed to working with all stakeholders to
improve sustainable development outcomes for chemicals and waste. Our discussions to date
at this session of the Commission have identified significant progress in this regard, but several
constraints and obstacles to achieving the sustainability objectives outlined at WSSD remain.
In the chemicals sector, these include lack of capacity in certain parts of the world to effectively
manage chemicals, and ensuring that mechanisms are in place to ensure effective chemicals
management across the supply chain and throughout the product lifecycle. The private sector is
working with other stakeholders through various mechanisms, including the SAICM process, to
address these constraints through capacity building and strengthening product stewardship and
sustainable business practices globally.
Waste management also has a critical role to play in sustainable development. The private
sector supports moves to encourage waste minimization, and more efficient use and more
extensive reuse of materials by viewing recyclable wastes, such as e-waste, as valuable
resources. Waste, such as biomass from the pulp and paper industry, can also be an important
source of energy. It is important that high standards of waste management are achieved and
the range of options available is kept as wide and flexible as possible.
In addition, the private sector has an important role to play as a solutions provider for
sustainable development. The chemical industry?s primary contributions in this regard include
chemical safety, innovation, and capacity building. In addition, the chemical industry helps to
provide sustainable development solutions for other industry sectors, including energy,
information technology and environmental industries, as well as the transport, mining and
waste sectors that share the spotlight at this CSD session.
Industry sectors such as mining and chemicals also contribute to sustainable development by
using energy to save energy. For example, the chemical industry is the principal supplier of
energy efficient materials worldwide, from insulation to materials for wind and solar power.
Through Responsible Care®, it has a shared commitment to continuously improving energy
efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in its operations.
Private sector technologies also make alternative energy technology possible, protect and clean
the world?s drinking water and other natural resources, and help lower GHG emissions.
To give an example, an International Council of Chemical Associations life-cycle analysis study
released in 2009 (based on independent analytical work by the consulting firm McKinsey and
Associates, and validated by the Öko Institute) reveals that GHG emission savings enabled by the
chemical industry are more than double the industry?s emissions, i.e. products of the chemical
industry enabled GHG savings 2-3 times greater than their emissions.
To conclude, the private sector has a unique role to play in promoting sustainable development.
Its products and technologies will have a major role in preserving our resources for future
generations through reducing emissions, conserving energy, and developing more sustainable
materials, technologies, and business practices. Business and Industry is a major contributor to
green jobs and the green economy.