Singapore - Are companies missing the big picture on going green?

SINGAPORE: A growing number of businesses are seeking to manufacture products in a more sustainable way but some experts argue that policy-makers should also play a more active role.

By the end of this year, some industry players expect there to be more mobile devices on the planet than people. And while this is good news for device manufacturers, many have been bringing in measures to ensure that their output for such device is sustainable or even 'green'.

For example, mobile phone providers such as Nokia and Ericsson have rolled out products touted as green with recycled materials.

Nokia too provides recycling options for used mobile phones. 

And while many applaud such efforts, some argue that overall the language of green is a smokescreen, and that many are missing out on the bigger picture. 

Global Institute For Tomorrow founder Chandran Nair, said: "I think the language of green is an attempt to smoke screen about a much more important issue which has a political dimension to it. The consumption led economic model promotes relentless consumption or 'buy one get one free. It does that by then further seeking to under-price everything. It is called competitive advantage but it is essentially getting things for free from your Apple computer to your burger. It then does that by seeking to dilute the ability of the state, the institutions of the state to provide regulations so you fight regulations endlessly because you need to keep on under-pricing everything.

"My view is that Asia needs to reject it if it is to address the most pressing challenges of our time which is that people need to have access to food that is safe and secure. There are more mobile phones than toilets in this part of the world."

Mr Nair argues that issues such as basic housing, education, and healthcare should remain key policy concerns. 

Green initiatives should be seen in the overall context of providing a good environment for society.

Mr Nair argues that the amount of chemicals used in agriculture should be reduced, and that the most abundant productivity tool on the planet should be utilised instead - people.

"Productivity today is measured around how you use as few people as possible and as much resources as possible so that you max your productivity gains. Our problem is very different. We have limited resources and lots of people. It is only logical that productivity should be measured around how do you use as few resources as possible with as many people working to maximize that efficiency of resources. These are fundamental changes to what have essentially been 200 or 300 years about what human progress should be," he said.

- CNA/fa


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