FCEF’s Green Recovery Guide
COVID-19 has caused disruption to the global supply chain resulting in loss of jobs for many people. There is an opportunity for Government, business and society to recover from the COVID-19. A green recovery is the key to ensuring a sustainable and resilient return to growth and development after COVID-19. Global examples show how climate change and other green themes can be central to COVID-19 responses so that countries can build back better.
FCEF’s Green Recovery Guide is intended to provide a general guideline for businesses and practitioners to better understand the basic concepts of Green Business Recovery. The material within this guide is based on learnings from the International Labour Organization’s Green Business Booklet 2017 and the Nordic Innovation Green Business Model Innovation Report 2017. This guide was adapted to the Fiji context by the Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council and the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation, and supported by the USAID Climate Ready Project.
The purpose of this Green Recovery Guide/Template is to assist Fiji’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) survive and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 in a more economical and environmentally sustainable manner. Moreover, this is an opportunity for the business to contribute to the reduction of their greenhouse gases and other impacts of climate change.
This supports the Government of Fiji’s efforts in achieving its United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), Fiji’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) aims to reduce 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and the Fiji Low Emission Development Strategy 2018- 2050 (LED).
As the countries around the world are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the global economy, lest we forget climate change and its impeding impacts to Fiji and the vulnerable countries around the world. The impacts of climate change present a significant challenge to the private sector, especially to micro, small and medium sized enterprises.
At the same time, the need to adapt to climate change may create a new demand for products and services, and prompt new business opportunities. Examples in the case of the textile industry might include technologies for energy efficiency and building insulation, or the provision of consulting services.
Today most businesses have adopted the “Green”, concept. To understand the meaning of Green Business, the Businesses explains, that the process is about making money, but doing so while sustainably harnessing opportunities that nature holds and without harming the environment.
Improve In Business Productivity (i) Increases Business Income Target niche market segment that are able and willing to pay a higher price for a product/ service that is manufactured and sold as eco-friendly and green conscious. With COVID-19 pandemic rife, customers preferences are changing with the increasing shift towards more healthy and socially responsible products and services.
These Businesses generate income from by-products that are produced from the waste of the business process.
(ii)Reduces Cost
In the process of reducing its car bon footprint, the business would indirectly reduce its business operational costs
Approach To A More Green & Sustainable Business Enterprise
(i) Green Business Products & Services Definition:
Sustainable product/ services designed for during its whole product life- cycle and even after it’s of no use.
(ii) Green Business Processes Definition:
Refers to measures to eliminate the environmental burden in such areas as resources input, chemical substances use and energy consumption to the greatest extent possible from all the processes involved in manufacturing the products/ services.
Simple Tips On Green Business Processes
(i) Get Lean – “Get lean” is about losing business fat i.e., cutting cost & identifying business waste to manufacture/ process by- products for additional business income.
Three Simple Tactics on how to “Get lean”: Cut down on the electricity bill a. Reduce the usage time of the electric appliances. For example: make it compulsory for all staff to switch off all appliances and spend their lunch hour outside the office.
b. Purchase electrical appliances that have a higher star rating indicating a low wattage use which would translate to reducing electricity bill.
c. Set up of business office space to make full use of natural sunlight.
Have a more efficient logistics/ distribution system a. Digitally track the movement of business vehicle fleet. By doing this you will be able to identify idle stops, summarise mileage usages and fuel consumption digitally.
b. Plan delivery trips well in advance prior to making the trip. This would help in improving efficiency in the distribution system, lesser mileage and thus reduce fuel cost.
Telecommunicating & Teleconferencing a. Due to COVID-19, there has been an increase platform available online that can facilitate virtual meetings and conferences. These include Facebook messenger, Zoom, Google Meet, Skype and Microsoft Teams.
b. It reduces the need for travelling long distances to attend meetings or conferences, thus reducing travelling/ transport costs.
Make Waste Pay a. Identify the waste produced at each level of business processes.
b. Explore opportunities of recycling and reducing the business waste or reselling of the by product from the wastages for additional business income.
For more information on the Green Recovery Guide, grab yourself a booklet or e-copy by emailing bdrc@fcef.com.fj. We are inviting MSMEs to take advantage of this GRP Guide and if you need a copy for your business or if you need a trainer, you can email FCEF Team. Trainers, who are available in the Northern, Western Division and Central Division who can support your business.