CGPP2004.

06/10/2005

15:06

Page 2

CGPP Report 2004/6

AT A GLANCE
The Macroom-E Integrated Business and
Environment project was established in order to
develop a programme which, in conjunction
with the areas industrial base, will facilitate the
implementation of cleaner, greener production
practices over the coming years.
The programme will develop, promote and
integrate environmental sustainability into
every aspect of business practice as a means of
maintaining the gross margin of businesses;
increasing corporate environmental
responsibility and awareness; and supporting
business and socio-economic development
within the town of Macroom and its hinterland.
As part of the CGPP initiative, the Macroom-E
Charter: Integrated Sustainability of Business
and Environment was developed. This Charter
was introduced to a number of businesses in
the area to allow them to take advantage of
increased business and environmental
performance. It promotes a system that applies
the previously developed environmental tools
of life cycle analysis; design for environment;
metrics system audit methodologies and EU
legislation to support a mutually beneficial
business and environmental sustainability based
on cleaner production.

MACROOM-E: INTEGRATED BUSINESS

AND ENVIRONMENT
AIMS OF THIS PROJECT

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The strategic aim of this project was to

An integrated business and environment

charter was drawn up to establish the
framework that a company or
organisation would need to apply to its
management systems in order to ensure
the delivery of eco-effective
manufacturing processes and greener
products. This objective was achieved
through research and through compiling
a special information pack designed to
meet the needs of SMEs. The
information pack covered areas such as:

produce an innovative approach to the

successful integration of environmental
and business performance and
development in Macroom and the towns
surrounding area. The project is the first of
its kind in the South West to promote
environmental sustainability in tandem
with industrial development. It aims to
raise levels of awareness of environmental
issues among businesses as well as

ABOUT MACROOM-E

improve the skills base within the

participating organisations and enterprises.

Printed on recycled paper using water based inks

Taking its lead from the National Development

Plan, EU Directives and prevailing social
consciousness, Cork County Councils
Development Section announced plans to
develop an innovative Environmental Industrial
Park (EIP) in Macroom in 2002.
This EIP development initiative represents an
extraordinary advancement in terms of forward
planning, environmental management and
resource engineering. The project, which is
driven by industrial needs and employment
requirements, incorporates the core elements of
current sustainable development and urban
spatial planning policies.
A broad representative group in the Macroom
area now operates under the banner of
Macroom-E. It includes Cork County Council;
Macroom Town Council; South Cork Enterprise
Board; the Lee Valley Enterprise Board;
Enterprise Ireland and Sustainable Energy
Ireland. Some time ago, the group recognised
the need to provide resources and to establish
awareness, training facilities, controls and
effective management tools with a view to
attaining a sustainable industrial environment in
the Macroom region. The development of the
Macroom-E Charter and its associated tools
through the Environmental Protection Agencys
Cleaner Greener Production Programme will
significantly advance the mission of Macroom-E.

1. Integrated environment and business

This is in order to ensure that their

2. Eco-effective manufacturing

respective management teams utilise the

3. Design for environment

tools developed by the project team to

improve their overall performance.

4. Environmental auditing
5. EU legislation
6. Environmental metrics
These tools were utilised by a range of
companies in the locality. Each
participating companys performance
was advanced in the common areas and
required an improvement in energy
efficiency and waste management, with
site-specific projects developed through
the Environment and Business
Management Programmes (EBMP).

BETTER BUSINESS IN A BETTER IRELAND

CGPP2004.6

06/10/2005

15:06

Page 3

PARTICIPANTS

EBMP
Macroom Town Council
The Square
Macroom
Co Cork

Water minimisation programmes and optimisation

of chemical dosing systems
Redirection of organic waste from municipal
waste streams

Follin Teo
Ballymakeera
Macroom
Co Cork
www.follain.com

Jams and preserves manufacturer

Assessment of organic labelling and marketing

Ship Company Ltd

Killarney Road
Macroom
Co Cork
www.ship.ie

Manufacture of printed circuit boards (PCBs)

Replace tin/lead-plating solution, pre-empting the
EU Directive on Restriction of Hazardous
Substances (RoHS)

Firebird Boilers
Ballymakeera
Macroom
Co Cork
www.firebird.ie

Domestic boiler manufacturer

Use of Eco-design principals for the design of new
domestic boilers

Alida Systems
IDA Industrial Estate
Coolcower
Macroom
Co Cork
www.alidasystems.com

Electrical cabling systems

Application of design for environment to cable
system manufacture

ETEK
Kilnamartyra
Macroom
Co Cork
www.princeaugust.ie

Computer dismantler and component recycler

Develop waste electrical and electronic (WEEE)
recovery opportunities

Replace current electroplating line with best

available technology

CGPP2004.6

06/10/2005

15:06

Page 4

ACHIEVEMENTS
The project resulted in the development and compilation of
a management system for integrated business
environment, which would be suitable for transfer to other
businesses and organisations. Macroom-E offered SMEs the
opportunity to utilise the skills of a professional
environmental health and safety consultant to review the
impact of companies/organisations on the environment and
to assess the measures that might be taken to reduce this
impact while simultaneously ensuring that their business
becomes more efficient.
The application of environmental tools for the measurement
and control of the various parameters contributing to
potential environmental degradation, coupled with the
ability to link this to the financial performance and efficiency
of the organisation, is invaluable.
The implementation of the metrics system at each site has
allowed for quick and efficient tracking of resource
consumption and waste production in relation to units
produced, allowing evaluation of a monthly financial
analysis of total expenditure in that area. This gives
management the ability to rapidly ascertain the
environmental and financial efficiencies of the operation on
an ongoing basis, and to highlight any discrepancies that
may have arisen. It also allows companies to benchmark
their environmental performance against other companies in
their sectors.

LESSONS
Through the application of both the Charter and the
Environmental Tools, the Integrated Business and
Environmental System has empowered organisations to
increase their internal skills base and to identify areas where
a combination of improved business performance and
improved environmental performance supports the
profitability and competitiveness of the organisation.
Opportunities for business growth and improved product
development (based on a proactive approach to product,
market and environmental legislative requirements) have
been reviewed with the participants in this project.

Moreover, companies have adopted a proactive approach to

future environmental legislation. This is perceived as a major
business opportunity, which allows for the development of
strategies to achieve a competitive edge prior to the
enactment of the legislation.
The Environmental Charter for Macroom-E is transferable to
other regions. The system will be used by the Development
Section of Cork County Council to support its three pillars
of environmental sustainability: Social Integrity, Economic
Sustainability and Environmental Quality.

MORE INFORMATION
For more information on this project contact:
Noel O'Driscoll
Senior Executive Officer
Development Section
Cork County Council
County Hall
Cork
Tel: 021-428 5560
Fax: 021-487 7741
Email: noel.odriscoll@corkcoco.ie

John Lynch
Director and Principal Consultant
Hydronomics Ltd
Bealick Mill
Macroom
Co Cork
Tel: 026-42742
Fax: 026-42743
Email: info@hydronomics.ie
Web: www.hydronomics.ie

CGPP2004.6

06/10/2005

15:06

Page 1

CLEANER GREENER
PRODUCTION IS
the application of integrated preventive environmental
strategies to processes, products, and services to increase
overall efficiency and reduce risks to humans and the
environment.
Production processes: conserving raw materials and
energy, eliminating toxic raw materials, and reducing the
quantity and toxicity of all emissions and wastes
Products: reducing negative impacts along the life cycle
of a product, from raw materials extraction to its
ultimate disposal.
Services: incorporating environmental concerns into
designing and delivering services.

CLEANER GREENER
PRODUCTION REQUIRES
new attitudes, better environmental management, and
evaluating available technology options. We need to take
good environmental practice to the stage where it is an
inherent part of any business operation.

HOW IS CLEANER GREENER

PRODUCTION DIFFERENT?
Much of the current thinking on environmental protection
focuses on what to do with wastes and emissions after they
have been created. The goal of cleaner, greener production
is to avoid generating pollution in the first place.
This means:

Better efficiency
Better business
Better environmental protection
Lower costs
Less waste
Less emissions
Less resource consumption

WHY IS THE CLEANER

GREENER PRODUCTION
PROGRAMME BEING RUN?

The long-term goal is to ensure that cleaner, greener production

becomes the established norm in Ireland. The programme seeks to
promote environmentally friendly business through increased
resource productivity, waste reduction, recovery of materials,
improved efficiency in a product value chain, energy management,
and a change of culture within organisations.
The programme aims are focussed on avoiding and preventing
adverse environmental impact rather than treating or cleaning up
afterwards. This approach brings better economic and
environmental efficiency.

PROGRAMME MANAGERS:
The Clean Technology Centre (CTC) at Cork Institute of
Technology was appointed to manage the programme in
association with OSullivan Public Relations Ltd, and Energy
Transport Actions Ltd, (ENTRAC).
The CTC was established in 1991 and is now nationally and
internationally regarded as a centre of excellence in cleaner
production, environmental management and eco-innovation across
a range of industrial sectors.

WHERE CAN I GET

FURTHER INFORMATION?
This case study report is one of 29 reports
available from the organisations that
participated in the first phase of the Cleaner
Greener Production Programme. A summary
of all the projects and CD containing all the reports
are also available. More information on the Programme
is available from the Environmental Protection Agency
Ms. Helen Walsh,
CGPP,
Environmental Protection Agency,
Richview, Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 14, Ireland.
Tel. 01 2680100
Website

Fax. 01 2680199

www.epa.ie

select link to cleaner production.

Email. ertdi@epa.ie
Printed on recycled paper using water based inks

The Irish Government, through the National Development

Plan 2000 - 2006, has allocated funds to a programme for
Environmental Research, Technological Development and
Innovation (ERTDI).

The Department of the Environment and Local Government asked

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to run the CGPP as
part of the ERTDI programme. With the programme continuing to
2006 about 60 businesses will be supported to implement cleaner
greener production and to demonstrate their achievements to the
rest of Ireland.