USAID Partners with Indian Private Sector to Support Corporate Sustainability and Green Growth

September 24, 2014 - The USAID LEAD program, in partnership with the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), conducted two technical trainings on September 23 and 24 in Mumbai, India to support efforts by BCCI to promote sustainability and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions among its member companies. The training, for 22 managers and supervisors from engineering, manufacturing, consumer goods, and power companies, focused on global best practices to reduce energy use, raise performance, and achieve other benefits for businesses and the environment from improved industrial lubrication management and wastewater management.

Efficient wastewater treatment and proper management of lubricants can reduce costs, lower emissions, and support sustainably of company operations and surrounding communities. Under an MOU with BCCI, the USAID LEAD program is providing a series of trainings on principles and practices of corporate sustainability and green growth to complement BCCI’s “Raising the Sustainability Quotient” program for its 4,000+ corporate members.

Introduction to Lubrication Management

In the first training on September 23rd at BCCI offices in Mumbai, experts from the USAID LEAD program introduced participants to the principles of lubrication management, lubricant conservation techniques, and approaches for proper disposal and reuse of lubricants in industries. Through case studies, the company managers learned about costs and benefits associated with different lubrication management techniques including standardization, condition-based oil replacement, and reuse and recycling.

At the end of the training, participants from several major consumer goods and engineer manufacturing companies in India agreed that establishment of a lubrication management system is an urgent need. They also noted that creating awareness of the advantages of lubrication management systems among senior management can result in development and implementation of corporate-wide strategies on conservation and management of lubricants. Participants expressed a willingness to take initial actions such as developing checklists on lubricant use and management for plant personnel, and sharing the training program’s conent with colleagues. They also requested a similar training program at their facilities to target other maintenance and operations personnel engaged in lubrication practices.

Industrial Wastewater Management

On September 24th, USAID LEAD trainers provided an overview of the different wastewater pollutants typical of major industries and proper treatment required before wastewater should be released into the environment. Through case studies, presentations, and discussion, participants learned about global best practices in industrial waste water treatment; compliance and regulatory standards for treating industrial wastewater; effluent discharge requirements; wastewater pollutants that are typical for different industries, and treatment options; and how to draft an integrated corporate water management strategy.

Wastewater treatment is critical for regulatory compliance and environmental management, and today there is a wide range of advanced techniques to treat contaminated water through primary, secondary and tertiary methods. In the current context of freshwater scarcity in many countriers and localities, best practice water treatment technologies help a factory become cost-effective, and can help the community around the factory become more sustainable, both in terms of water use and GHG emissions.

For more information about the USAID LEAD/BCCI series of trainings, please contact Sumedha Malaviya (Sumedha.Malaviya@icfi.com) or Rajeshwari Nambiar (rnambiar@india.iscvt.org).