BOI embarks on greening project

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) has embarked on a going-green project in its zones across the country following the precedent set by many apparel and Information Technology firms which have gone green in its manufacturing process.

Green manufacturing is not only vital for retaining customers and promoting exports but also ensuring sustainable development. The BOI has launched a forestry cultivation program in Export Processing Zones (EPZ) to control the adverse impact of industrialisation and promote sustainable development.

Today, there are innovative and exciting projects organised around the idea of planting large numbers of trees. These are understood as efforts to improve the quality of life, produce more wildlife habitat and increase ecological resilience and construct green infrastructure, and are undertaken by various stakeholders.

BOI sources said EPZs have a daily influx of thousands of workers and added that a planned landscape will provide a relaxing effect on the workers. Director Media and Publicity, BOI, Dilip Samarasinghe said the BOI is committed to create environment-friendly zones throughout the country. A massive and comprehensive tree planting exercise is to take place and will be the first step in that direction.

"Our organisation's longstanding goal is to develop the country but not at the expense of the environment. We are also aware that today's consumers want to know the conditions under which the goods they purchase are produced overseas. A clean environment will be an important selling point in tomorrow's globalised economy," he said.

Urban forestry will be introduced in the EPZs as multiple use landscapes to enhance the visual character, create recreational areas, provide shade, reduce the energy budget of urban buildings such as cost of air-conditioning, reduction of dust, air pollution and noise level.

The land used to set up EPZs were mostly scrub-land, secondary forest, plantations with vegetation which shows a considerable extent of vegetation cover has been removed for EPZs.

Rapid industrialisation has increased emission of greenhouse gases through transportation, land clearing, and manufacturing resulting in expansion of the carbon footprint in the country, sources said.

Today there are a number of innovative and exciting projects organised around the idea of planting trees to improve quality of life, produce more wildlife habitat and increase ecological resilience, and construct green infrastructure and are undertaken by stakeholders of business establishments.

"Many common areas of the EPZ apart from those to be leased out to investors will be used for planting. Road reservations, footpaths, reservations around water bodies such as lakes, streams and maturation ponds, parking areas, bus terminals, land around common facilities such as administration buildings, health centres, land areas around water and sewage treatment plants, buffer zones and playgrounds will be used for planting which will provide favourable working and living conditions for factory employees and the environment in the region," sources said.

He said the potential for urban forestry within the zones may vary and as a result constraints have to be taken into account when planning.

Providing land and facilities for investment in commercial forestry will help minimise damage to forest reserves without affecting the demand for timber and related products. Private sector support will be obtained for planting, harvesting, processing and sale of wood products.

"The Board will explore the possibility of launching 'social forestry' to conserve the forest cover in areas adjacent to EPZs in rural areas with the support of the local community and investors. Trees could be planted in the premises of government, semi-government, private and non-governmental organisations, community lands, cremation grounds, banks of river, lakes and ponds, private and degraded farmlands and roadsides, grasslands to improve tree cover and energy plantation," he said.

Planting stock will be obtained from the Forest Department, Govijana Seva Centres and private growers. Sources said funding for the project will be sought from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Asian Development Bank (ADB) or other agencies funding environmental conservation.

The green manufacturing process is being adopted by corporates across the globe to minimise the impact of the production process on the environment.

Many Sri Lankan firms have adopted green business practices conveying a strong message to non-adheres of environmental sustainable practices to join the cause and support efforts to reduce pollution and save the planet.

Experts said observing green manufacturing practices is indispensable and has become an integral part of corporate practices to retain customers who today are increasing concerned of purchasing products that are produced under environment and labour-friendly conditions.

Green production comprises recycling, use of energy efficient equipment, proper use of resources such as turning the lights off when not necessary and proper waste disposal. Ethical manufacturing is mandatory for importing countries.

Sri Lanka is known for ethical manufacturing that has no sweatshops and use of child labour.

The 'Garments without Guilt' initiative has paid dividends to the apparel export sector. Sri Lanka is also known as one of the world's least polluting countries with a low per capita carbon footprint compared to developed countries. Studies reveal that around 95 percent of the organisations are engaged in green initiatives and over 90 percent adopt decent work practices for employees.