Theme Private Sector Environmental Performance • Capacity for Cleaner Production

Industrial contamination is a serious environmental problem throughout the world. Heightened public and business awareness of the effects of contamination locally, nationally and globally has led to efforts to create methods of cleaner production. Businesses have found that adopting improved methods can increase their competitiveness by reducing consumption of materials and waste.

Motivated by these savings, companies large and small are working to institute environmental management systems (EMS).  An EMS is comprehensive, systematic set of processes and practices, tailored to a particular firm, to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiencies. 

To compete as efficient trade partners, CAFTA-DR companies must adopt cleaner production measures and EMS systems.  Our Program works at the institutional and individual enterprise levels to build capacity for cleaner production. 

• Institutional Initiatives.  We promote the incorporation of regional cleaner production strategy and EMS guidelines into CAFTA-DR national policy frameworks.  Guidelines help encourage business investment in cleaner processes and technologies.  Transparent frameworks also attract foreign investors seeking opportunities where they can invest in sustainable business activities and be assured of fair competition on a clearly defined, level field.
  
  We have also contributed to strengthening the capacity of national cleaner production centers to assist in developing industry-specific guidelines and have supported governments to prepare and publish practical manuals for environmentally sound production.

• Support to Enterprises.  We work to build the capacity of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to adopt more environmentally-sound manufacturing and processing methods, improve their products and increase profitability.  SMEs operate in many business sectors and participate in trade as direct importers or exporters or as suppliers of goods and services to companies in international commerce.  Agriculture is a particularly important sector in CAFTA-DR trade, and SMEs play a significant role in the cultivation and processing of many agricultural products for consumption abroad, as well as locally.
  
  The Program offers a broad, varied menu of support—technical assistance in planning improvements, selecting equipment, financing equipment and facilities, training employees—which can be tailored to the particular SME’s needs and potential.