Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - Discussions at the forthcoming National Environment Conference 2008 will include sessions on how SMEs in the developing world can reduce water and energy consumption, generate less waste and pollution, increase efficiency which in turn help to become more profitable and competitive while helping the environment.

The world is now experiencing turbulent weather patterns — from flooding, heat waves, heavy rainfall, snowfall, hurricanes that are becoming extreme in every sense. Not only are we having climate problems, but we are also dealing with resource depletion issues.

According to a recent World Bank report, 80 countries are now facing water shortages posing a threat to the overall health and economy, while 40 percent of the world six billion people have no access to clean water or sanitation.

"Humankind has inherited a 3.8 billion per year store of natural capital. At present rates of use and degradation, there will he little left by the end

of the next century," a spokesman for Asia Inc Forum explained.

"Many of us may not be around by the turn of the century but our children and our children's children will be suffering from our over-indulgence,"„added the spokesman.

As a response, a large number of forward thinking companies are using environmental issues to their advantage, formulating innovative solutions that help them become more profitable while keeping the environment in mind.

Labeled the "Green Sustainable Supply Chain", it presents a solution of using environmentally friendly inputs and transforming these inputs through change agents whose by-products can improve or be recycled within the existing environment.

According to the Asia Inc Forum spokesman, this process develops outputs that can be reclaimed and re-used at the end of their life-cycle thus, creating a sustainable supply chain.

An in-depth session on Greening the Supply Chain will discuss on how sustainability can be a competitive advantage, with an Address by Dr Terry F. Yosie, President & Chief Executive Officer, World Environment Center, USA, on the 23rd of October.

The National Environment Conference is organized by Asia Inc Forum in partnership with TOTAL HSBC, Alcoa and BLNG. To register and further queries, please contact Nanette Ramos 2226555 'or email nanette.ramos@asiaincforum.com or visit the Asia Inc Forum's website www.asiaincforum.com. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin