Third Green Industry Conference (GIC 2013) highlighted successes and policy challenges in promoting green industry concepts, and reaffirmed the importance of the Green Industry Platform. Conference participants considered green industry concepts in manufacturing, including more efficient use of energy and raw materials , eco-design and the sound management of chemicals and hazardous substances in processes, and the sound management of wastes.
A high-level round table discussed outstanding policy challenges and the need for inter-sectoral cooperation and promotion of active partnership among stakeholders. Plenary sessions addressed resource efficiency and investors’ perspectives, while technical panels discussed cleaner production in the textile industry, “green chemistry” and hazardous waste, women in green industry, indicators and metrics, smart manufacturing in the food and beverage industry, eco-industrial parks and green industrial policies. Participants agreed on the importance of scaling up investments, replicating known good practices and monitoring progress toward green industry targets using appropriate indicators.
The Conference also reaffirmed the importance of the Green Industry Platform in promoting partnership, cooperation and concerted action in green industry development. The Platform, a joint initiative of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), was launched at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) as global, high-level, multi-stakeholder partnership to catalyze, mobilize and mainstream action on green industry worldwide. The Platform currently consists of over 160 governments, corporations and civil society organizations. During GIC 2013, VinylPlus announced it would join the Platform