Consumers in Kenya will soon be able to tell the level of pollution resulting from producing different products, in what aims to promote responsible operations among manufacturers.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), a representative body for manufacturers in the country, is moving to roll out a carbon footprint calculator that will track emission levels from industries and award certification based on pollution levels. This information will be shared with the public, pointing them towards green consumerism by going for low-carbon products.
Carbon-neutral factories will earn a green certification – a strong demonstration of their ethical practices.
“Industrial emissions have an impact on climate change. With this in mind we need to prepare Kenyan manufacturers for tomorrow’s markets in which priority is not just about selling but also tracking the effects of your processes and products on the environment,” Sylvester Makaka, KAM energy advisor said in a webinar on how industries can adopt climate-smart technologies.
“We’re currently building local capacity through trainings to be able to do the analysis and progressively move industries towards the certification regime,” he added.
KAM recently launched a Centre for Green Growth and Climate Change aimed at promoting sustainable practices in factories.
Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) takes a low-carbon and climate resilient development pathway, with a target of reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030.
“In some economies there’s a tax or rebate component on carbon footprints while in others carbon credits are tradable, where you can exchange either peer-to-peer or you can buy from a carbon-negative company. This is the business of tomorrow,” said Makaka.
In Kenya, telecommunications firm Safaricom has a staff carbon footprint calculator that measures resource use efficiency among workers.
The firm has set a challenge for its 6,000 staff in managing and mitigating their own personal carbon footprints, which when compounded gives significant results.
The virtual meeting on why and how industrial SMEs can adopt environmentally-sound technologies was organised by Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) in partnership with Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).
It brought together small industries, climate-friendly solutions providers and financiers to explore ways of joining synergies and exploring available opportunities in the green space.
Read also: Manufacturers Launch a Green Hub to Promote Eco-friendly Industrial Operations in Kenya
