CEC supports training course for small- and medium-size Mexican companies

Pollution prevention is an investment, not just an expense. It can even be good business. That's what a medium-size company in Monterrey, Nuevo León, found when a modification of production processes - at a modest investment of 50,000 pesos (less than U.S. $7,000) - saved the company more than 4.5 million pesos (U.S. $620,000).

But how can these kinds of pollution-prevention strategies and programs be adopted? That was the topic of the April 22 training course that attracted some 300 professionals and managers from nacec.small- and medium-size companies. The course, presented via satellite in 13 cities in Mexico, was organized by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) along with the Monterrey Technological Institute (ITESM).

The satellite seminar, coordinated by Hernando Guerrero, CEC's program manager for capacity building cooperation, included presentations and discussions on the reduction, reuse and recycling of materials; changes to production; and products and other tools used for pollution prevention. Participants also learned about developing a plan for their companies - the first step being to convince management that it's necessary - and heard practical examples of pollution prevention used in the ceramic and pharmaceutical industries.

The high point of the seminar, actually the second in a series, was a discussion on cost-benefit analysis of environmental programs. According to Monterrey-based engineer Erick Treviño, who explained several specific cases, a pollution-prevention program for small- and medium-size companies not only saves money in the short-term but, in the long-term, has the added benefit of protecting the environment.