TO outsiders, the Asahi Best Base Sdn Bhd factory in Kulim Industrial Estate is like any other manufacturing outfit. But the moment guests enter its main office they will surely be struck by the extra effort put in to create an environment-friendly work place.
On top of the regular doormat to remove loose dirt from visitors’ shoe soles, there is a second mildly adhesive mat to make sure that stubborn particles are also got rid of.
The rest room is filled with posters and little notes on the walls to remind users on the do’s and don’ts of a good toilet habit.
“Use the urinator instead of the toilet to pass water;” “Do not dispose of cigarette butts into the toilet bowl;” “Do not dry your hands with tissues – use the automatic hand dryer.”
That Asahi Best Base is serious about advocating a working environment that is conducive to its employees is manifested by their success in getting the ISO 14001 Certificate recently.
It is most heartening to note that companies like Asahi Best Base are taking the trouble to adopt ISO 14001 standards.
No doubt a lot of hard work has been put in to comply with the requirements of the prestigious international standards.
And no doubt, too, that a lot more needs to be done to make sure that the standards are maintained.
But looking at the sheer determination and grit of its management and employees, surely Asahi and the many other companies that have adopted the ISO 14001 standards will be able to contribute significantly to sustainable development.
Among others, these companies agree to endorse a recycling policy. Separation of rubbish into recyclables and non-recyclables is given top priority.
Workers are taught to put different waste items into different bins. This they have managed to do rather satisfactorily within the factory compound.
But can this habit be sustained beyond the ambience of the factory? Will they be able to inculcate this noble practice among their children and neighbours once they go home?
Currently, there are many recycling awareness campaigns being organised all over the country.
Looking at the tremendous public support of the various environmental care community projects, and the commitment and enthusiasm of students in competitions and exhibitions based on recycling themes, there appears to be an eagerness and willingness to ‘walk the talk’ of recycling among the masses.
Nevertheless, the positive impact of these recycling awareness campaigns on the public is not surprising.
In Malaysia at least, the practice of separating garbage for the purpose of recycling is not new.
We can still recall how years ago, our parents would put aside old newspapers, and separate bottles into transparent and opaque, normal shaped and odd-shaped.
The items would then be collected by the Mamak botol who would presumably resell them to interested parties.
In those days, recycling was one of the many methods of earning extra income for the youngsters and, perhaps, even some adults.
However, despite the success of the awareness campaigns, its sustainability cannot be ensured, for as long as the right infrastructure and service are not made available for the people to practise recycling in earnest.
Frankly, right now in Malaysia we are still without a true-blue recycling policy. Although a lot has been said, but not much has been done in this area. The local or district councils will have to act fast to provide the necessary support.
If they are unable to do it, do enlist the help of the numerous experts on environmental care in the local universities.
Surely they can help shape a practical, cost-effective recycling policy for the county and country.
This would surely be one of the best gifts for Mother Nature, especially when she celebrates Earth Day tomorrow.
How is planet Earth doing? Is it fine? Or is it sickly?
A document of the United Nations Environment Programme, “Global Environment Outlook 2000” confirms in its findings that the environment crisis facing humanity in the new millennium is a world threatened, either because people have too much, or too little.
The continued poverty of the majority of the planet’s inhabitants and excessive consumption by the minority are the two major causes of environmental degradation.
GEO 2000 concludes that the present course is unsustainable and postponing action is no longer an option. How can we contribute to the protection of the world’s environment?
Recently the Government announced that a substantial sum of money is to be allocated to clean up the rivers. There are a few rivers gazetted as dead. Maybe this can help bring them back to life.
But certainly this amount will not be sustainable in the long run. Prevention of river pollution is still the best bet to avoid future debacles. Proper rubbish disposals by those living along riverbanks must be provided for.
To add insult to the injury to Mother Nature, some 20 kilometres above our head, chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are destroying the ozone layers.
Damage to the protective ozone layer, which shields the earth’s surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation, would mean outbreaks of skin cancer and cataracts as well as the loss of crops and wildlife.
So great was the concern that about 10 years ago, governments around the globe outlawed CFCs by signing the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer.
The irony of CFCs is that, years ago they were initially valued precisely because there seemed to be no need to worry.
At a 1930 meeting the inventor of the compounds inhaled CFC vapours and then blew out a candle to show that the chemicals were neither toxic nor flammable.
Over the next 50 years, CFCs made an array of new technologies possible: modern refrigerators, household and automobile air conditioners, aerosol spray cans, Styrofoam, cleaning techniques for microchips and other electronic parts.
But the realisation that it is harmful has made many countries to work on ways to eliminate CFCs altogether from products. Emission of CFCs into our atmosphere would be reduced to zero finally.
And now there is concern that carbon-based gases, especially carbon dioxide, are contributing significantly to global warming.
A protocol to gradually reduce emission of these gases has been drawn up in Kyoto in 1997.
Sadly, there are major developed countries that are reluctant to carry through this protocol.
Although arguments can be put forth on the validity of data to support claims of the relations between carbon-based gases and the greenhouse effect, the need to do something even though the evidence is not there should be adopted in environmental issues, just like the issue of CFCs.
For after all, we only have one earth. We also have just one chance of caring for it. Make sure we do it right the first time around.
All the animals languish, filling the air with lamentations.
The woods fall in ruin.
The mountains are torn open in order to carry away the metals which are produced there.
But how can I speak of anything more wicked than men who, with greater zeal, have injured their country and the human race.
(Leonardo da Vinci, Prophecies, 1490s).