The Queensland Government is offering a subsidy for manufacturing businesses that want to streamline resource use and shrink their carbon footprint.
The Government is subsidising up to 75% of the cost for the first 40 businesses to sign up for the program, with businesses who apply after that to be eligible for up to 50% subsidised costs of the audit.”
Queensland Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher said lots of manufacturing businesses want to benchmark their sustainability processes and improve efficiencies “but they don’t know where to start”.
“We know these measures will help cut costs as well as help the environment, but auditing these processes within the business has been challenging – until now,” he said.
“Manufacturing contributes $20 billion a year to the state’s economy, so when businesses can be as efficient as possible, it means more good jobs and better services for Queenslanders.”
Mr Butcher said the Department is working with The Ecoefficiency Group (TEG), “who will come into each business and identify areas where improvements can be made in the use of energy, water or other resources”.
“They will create a report that identifies areas for improvement and measures the business against industry best practice,” he explained.
TEG Director Penny Prasad said making sure the manufacturing sector is as efficient as possible means less water and energy is wasted and less waste is generated, which benefits the environment and our society as a whole.
“Also, it improves the bottom line for the business – it’s a win-win all around,” she added.
All Industries Group in Yeppoon and Sunstate Timbers in Deception Bay were the first businesses in Queensland to be part of the program.
Mr Butcher commended both companies for stepping up to help create change and encouraged others to follow their example.
“We’re keen to really get businesses engaged and invested in this project,” he said.
“It will deliver a range of benefits and the more businesses that we get to do it, the greater those benefits to the environment and to the community will be.”
