Introduction

Extended producer responsibility is one of the approaches to be embedded in company policies and practices to reconcile environmental protection and economic growth. The responsible management of products and processes from an environmental point of view can stimulate greater awareness throughout the company, improve corporate credibility and reputation, enhance business development opportunities and facilitate dialogue and partnership with key stakeholders.

Companies can be more environmentally responsible in different ways, including the analysing of potential environmental impacts of production processes and products, restricting an activity whose impact on the environment is uncertain, promoting environmentally sound technologies, implementing cleaner production and ensuring transparency and complete communication with stakeholders. In addition, companies can adopt voluntary charters, codes of conduct, codes of practice in global and sectoral initiatives to be more environmentally responsible

Key elements

• Apply precautionary approaches in different activities regarding products and processes;
• Adopt the same operating standards regardless of location;
• Improve supply-chain management;
• Facilitate technology improvement and transfer;
• Contribute to environmental awareness in company locations;
• Communicate with different stakeholders.

Further Information

OECD [http://www.oecd.org/env/efficiency/epr.htm] - his page describes Extended Producer Responsibility as a measure many OECD governments took to expand private sector responsibility for conserving resources and energy and reducing the amount of pollutant released and wastes sent to final disposal.

International Declaration on Cleaner Production [http://www.unepie.org/pc/cp/declaration/home.htm] - UNEP's International Declaration on Cleaner Production is a voluntary but public statement of commitment to the strategy and practice of cleaner production. The site has information on the initiative itself, signatory lists and signing ceremony information, information regarding languages that the declaration is in as well as a "what's new?" page.

World Business Council on Sustainable Development [http://www.wbcsd.ch/] - This WBCSD web page gives you an overview of different activities promoted by industry regarding, for example eco-efficiency, climate and energy. The eco-efficiency section provides a link to the European Eco-efficiency Initiative (EEEI) and to the Europeans Partners for the Environment (EPE) website.

Responsible Care Initiative [http://www.cmahq.com/] - Responsible Care is the chemical industry's voluntary environmental, health and safety initiative and performance improvement initiative. This site offer users information on the initiative itself, news and information, available publications, workshops and seminars, compliance centre and key activities that the initiative is undertaking. Users can also access all the information necessary to be able to join the initiative.

International Hotels Environment Initiative [http://www.ihei.org] - This initiative is aimed at the international hotel industry and environmental management. The site contains information on the initiatives, governance issues, the global mission of the initiative, key issues, current events, press releases, areas of activities, international programmes, practical help and educational material. A searchable database on socially responsible business practices is also accessible from the site.

The Global Business Responsibility Resource Center (BSR) [http://www.bsr.org/] - The BSR aims to provide businesses with the information they need to understand and implement more responsible policies and practices, and achieve sustained commercial success in ways that honour high ethical standards and benefit people, communities, and the environment. This section of the BSR website is dedicated to the environment and contains examples of different industry initiatives related to specific environmental issues.

ABOUT UNEP | SITE MAP | SEARCH | CONTACT US | HOME | DISCLAIMER

Last Update: 10 August, 2001