Earthenterprise Tool Kit - International Institute for Sustainable ...

EarthEnterprise Tool Kit
TOOL
• Environmental responsibility is internalized into methods that replace
waste- and pollution-generating pro c e s s e s . This reduces demand for
traditional environmental products and services, but opens new markets in
pollution-prevention technologies and processes.
The United States, Canada, Western Europe, and Japan are the furthest along
on this evolutionary path and have the largest markets for both pollution
control and pollution prevention technologies. Many countries in Asia, Latin
America, and Central and Eastern Europe are just starting to tackle pollution
problems and as a result will have the fastest growing markets for remediation
and control technologies. If the appropriate regulatory, economic, and fiscal
incentives are put into place, and sufficient investment capital is available,
companies and industries within these regions may be able to accelerate the
adoption of prevention strategies.
Neatly measuring the transition from pollution control to pollution prevention
is often difficult. Remediation and abatement technologies are easy to classify
within the environmental industry. New products, manufacturing technologies,
and process designs, however, tend to be categorized within their relevant
industry, and not as “environmental”. Compact fluorescent lamps and CFCfree,
energy efficient refrigerators, for example, are classified as lighting and
appliances, while flue gas desulphurization units (or scrubbers) are termed
“environmental technologies”.
Unless environmental technologies are redefined, slower acting countries may
be perceived as having the largest environmental markets. In countries where
environmentally superior goods and technologies are sought in all sectors, the
numbers may erroneously appear less impressive.
Monitor and Participate in Voluntary Programs
As part of its ongoing effort to reduce air pollution and the emission of
greenhouse gases, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a
series of voluntary programs with industry. The actions “are good ideas on
economic grounds alone,” says the agency. “Energy efficiency is indeed ‘no
regrets’.” Participating companies will keep abreast of the latest technology
developments, be able to monitor the activities of competitors, and avoid being
left behind in this rapidly changing field.
The first voluntary initiative, the Green Lights program, began in January 1991.
By fall 1993, the owners of more than one billion square feet of commercial,
industrial, and institutional space were improving the efficiency of their lighting
systems. More than 1,000 upgrades are under way, with three billion square feet
of space committed, far exceeding the combined total office space in the
AVALANCHE MARKETS
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