Published in Business and Environment, November-December 1998.

A manual entitled "Increased Productivity through Environmental Management" is now available for semiconductor and electronic companies. Developed by the PBE and the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (SEIPI), the 90-page manual primarily aims to instruct the target companies on the intricacies of environmental management, with emphasis on waste minimization and pollution prevention.

The manual points out that with their toxic emissions, heavy metal discharges, and large consumption of water and electricity, the relatively young semiconductor and electronics industries contribute significantly to environmental degradation. The manual thus offers a number of options that will not only be enable the two industries to reduce the environmental impact of their operations but also help them to meet international environmental standards. The manual also gives tips on how to integrate environmental concerns in industrial operations, and it outlines the basic steps in setting up an environmental management system (EMS). The latter is particularly useful for companies that plan to seek certification to ISO 14001.

The manual also devotes one whole chapter on the results of a pollution management appraisal (PMA) which was conducted recently on two volunteer plants. A PMA is a systematic and objective evaluation of the various processes and operations of a facility with the goal of identifying opportunities or options for pollution prevention. The manual presents a total of 16 opportunities or options that would enable semiconductor and electronics companies to greatly reduce their wastes and gain financial savings at the same time.

The identified waste minimization options are something that the two industries can implement without making major changes in their present setup and processes. For instance, to significantly reduce the use of detergents and additives in cleaning and washing operations, the drag-out and rinsewater mixture generated by the two industries should not sent directly to the wastewater treatment facility, but should be reused instead in the preparation of fresh cleaning solution. This measure alone would enable a plant to realize savings of up to P380, 000 per year. Annual savings from other measures that lead to a reduction in raw materials usage and water consumption could run up to P1.3 million.