Growing greener industries

DTI/CSIR Programme to host conference aimed at growing greener industries

August 26th, 2019

Tags: national cleaner production centre south africa, technology, energy

The National Cleaner Production Centre South Africa (NCPC-SA) will host its fourth Industrial Efficiency Conference in September at the CSIR ICC in Pretoria. The two-day session, offered at no cost to business and industry every two years, includes local and international expert speakers, and provides advice, case studies and guidelines on becoming low carbon, greener operations through resource efficient and cleaner production.

Resource efficient and cleaner production (RECP) is championed nationally by the NCPC-SA, and includes a wide range of green economy practices, which when applied to facilities, processes and products, help transform existing operations into leaner, greener organisations. The NCPC-SA offers industry support in industrial energy efficiency with a transition to renewable energy; water efficiency; industrial symbiosis; materials efficiency and waste minimisation; product life-cycle management; and green skills development – and will cover all these topics at the upcoming event.

This year, the conference will also have a session dedicated to improving the efficiencies of the foundry sector, hosted at the conference by fellow industry support programme, the National Foundry Technology Network (NFTN). The NCPC-SA and NFTN are both managed by the CSIR on behalf of the (newly renamed) Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dti), under the leadership of internationally respected RECP pioneer, Ndivhuho Raphulu.

“The NCPC-SA conference has become recognised as a highlight in platforms that equip and showcase best practice in South Africa’s green economy. That is why we host it every two years in a different province – allowing us to reach companies across the country,” says the NCPC-SA and NFTN Director. According to Raphulu, what sets it apart is the fact that the conference is not aimed at merely discussing issues, but is a programme of two days of educating and equipping businesses to adopt a cleaner, more efficient model and government representatives to integrate RECP programmes into the policies and strategies.

To date, three conference have been held, with great success each time: In 2013 at Emperor’s Palace, Ekurhuleni; 2015 at Durban ICC; and September 2017 at Century City, Cape Town. This year’s event will be hosted at the CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria on 10 and 11 September 2019. Julie Wells, the conference project leader and Communication Manager at the NCPC-SA, says that the 2019 event will have two sub-themes to keep up with the latest developments, and expand the scope of the messaging. The first can be loosely described as RECP in the digital economy.

“Topics such as smart energy solutions, smart factories and digital platforms for eco-innovation will emphasise how the fourth industrial revolution and the move to digitised solutions should enhance the ability of industries to become more resource efficient and better manage their footprint,” she explained. The second sub theme is aimed at driving consumer behaviour – along the supply chain and by the enduser. This will be achieved by showcasing case studies from companies who have implemented RECP intheir plants and facilities.

NCPC-SA Industrial Efficiency Conference 2019, CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, 10-11 September 2019 “We must not forget that the purpose of the companies who implement these improvements is to manufacture or sell products in order to stay in business. Both the CSIR and the dti aim to support businesses of all sizes to innovate and grow, to ensure a thriving, sustainable economy.”

“Our hope is that, by demonstrating the impact of RECP on these companies, and by linking the case study to the products produced by those companies, we help create more responsible consumers.” “South African businesses and individuals must support local products, and if those products are produced in a company assisted by the NCPC-SA, they are busying local and green,” says Wells.

The NCPC-SA Industrial Efficiency Conference will be relevant for industrial company representatives in both production and management; senior representatives of government agencies and departments; energy, water and environmental consultants; post graduate students (engineering and environmental sciences); and green economy partners.

Conference programme

The conference will be a two-day event with an opening and closing plenary, and sessions on key topics. Sessions will be mix of technical presentations and panel discussions with relevant stakeholders. An exhibition area will host organisations that can assist industry, including sector associations, finance institutions, government departments and support organisations.

Programme topics include: