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BUILDING ON THE EXPERIENCE OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DESIGN

Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre

3rd Global Networking conference on

Resource Efficient & Cleaner ProductionIn developing and transition countries

Montreux, Switzerland 4-6 September 2013

Outline

• Brief description of the Cleaner Production for Better Product (CP4BP) project

• From CP4BP to Sustainable Product Innovation (SPIN)

• Closing remarks

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Brief on CP4BP project

• Lead applicant: Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre (VNCPC)

• International partners: UNEP DTIE (France), TU Delft (Netherlands)

• Regional partners: AITCV (Vietnam), LNCCI (Lao PDR), PSMI (Cambodia, Associate)

• Project Start: November 2007

• Duration: 20 months

• Budget: 500,000 € (EC financing: 75% = 400,000 €)

• Beneficiaries: Vietnamese, Cambodian and Lao population 3

Brief on CP4BP project

Objectives:

• Through the uptake of CP and D4S, to increase the capacity on developing eco-friendly and socially responsible products in Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR to create trade opportunities with European countries

Main activities:

1. Project Start-up and initial training

2. Pilot projects and research studies

3. Finalization of project and dissemination of resources

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D4S is a valid concept that can be profitable and result in environmental and social improvements

Sustainability can bring value to a quality product for which a growing market is willing to pay

Integrating sustainability remains a challenge for companies and their intermediaries

- D4S approach can be more streamlined

- Companies need technical support to develop sustainable innovation capacities and marketing support to sell new products

- More commitment is needed from companies

Key Overall Findings from the CP4BP project

From CP4BP to SPIN

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• Duration: Four years: 4/2010 – 03/2014

• Donor: SWITCH-Asia program, EU funded

• Partners: – Delft University of Technology (TUD), The Netherlands – Leading

– Vietnam Cleaner Production Center (VNCPC), Vietnam

– Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AITVN), Vietnam

– United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), France

– Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), Laos

– Cambodia Cleaner Production Office (CCPO), Cambodia

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From CP4BP to SPIN

Overall objectives: To promote potential innovation in the industry and increase social and environmental quality of the products produced in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in a large scale

Introduction of SPIN

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500 companies in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

• Furniture• Handicraft• Food processing• Textile• Footwear

More sustainable and advanced products (more than 1000 new products)

Markets• Domestic• Regional• EU

Specific objectives:

Introduction of SPIN

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SPIN methodology

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Project work packagesCoordination and Inception: - Set-up the SPIN GO in Hanoi and help desks in HCMC, Laos and Cambodia- Project preparation report; - Kick-off workshop and launching ceremony…

SPIN Toolkit Development and Studies: - SPIN toolkit- Studies on SPIN potential, market requirements and market channels- Studies on policy and institutional mechanisms for promoting sustainable product in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia

SPIN Capacity Building and Support: - Train the trainer workshops- Exchange programme; - Innovation skill building workshops

SPIN Implementation – Products re-/new design in 500 companies

- Companies identification and selection; - Company-projects kick-off events and company staff training- Company-projects implementation and follow-up; - Company-projects monitoring and evaluationMarketing and Market Building: - Project image and promotion material, project branding

- Marketing skills for companies; - Market access and participation in trade fairs and related events- Sustainable product policy workshop; - Promotion of sustainable public procurement

Outreach and Sustainability: - Information dissemination & Networking; - Networking events

- SPIN product fairs; - National working conferences on sustainable product policy- Stakeholders review meetings; - Final report on lessons learned

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Policy and institutional mechanisms for promoting sustainable product

Policy level intervention plays a critical role;

Synergy between private sector interests and public policies become more important.

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Source of Innovation

Mechanism for acquisition & transfer

Outcomes

International SourcesInternational Sources

Knowledge CreationKnowledge Creation

• Technology transfer• Technical Assistance• International Trainings,

education and exchange programmes

• ICT based

• Technology transfer• Technical Assistance• International Trainings,

education and exchange programmes

• ICT based

• Patenting & Licensing• Capacity building• University – Business

linkages• Business incubators• Information sharing

network

• Patenting & Licensing• Capacity building• University – Business

linkages• Business incubators• Information sharing

network

• Specialised R&D institutions

• Efficient businesses

• Developed of supply chain

• Network (of businesses, stakeholders)

• Efficient extraction and use of natural resources

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Indigenous knowledgeIndigenous knowledge

Enabling Mechanism

Implementation & lesson learned

Technology push

Market pull

CP + Product modification/improvement

Product strategy

Business to Business (B2B) initiative (or company clustering)

Community development through system innovation

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Technology pushConcept:Based on current technologies of companies, helps to improve or shift to advanced technologies to enhance product quality and competitiveness

In-practice examples: -TxT (Quan Hoa, Thanh Hoa):Carbonizing technology to reduce 10 times the period of processing “luong” bamboo; and Zero-waste technology to make use of all solid waste in the process-Bamboo Living Co.:Green composite technology to reduce the amount of chemicals in matrix and shift to the use of natural fibers (jute, coconut) and lignin

Lesson learned:-Feasible if technology is not too complicated and requires reasonable investment-Technology should be owned and transferred by national consultant companies

Implementation and lesson learned

Technology innovation in TxT Co.

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Market pull (demand pull)

Concept:Innovation is developed in response to an identified market need

In-practice examples:Ngoc Dong Co.: Mushroom products:-Very high demand of the market-Make use of agricultural wastes→SPIN implementation: Providing consultancy in technology, packaging and market analysis

Lesson learnedReliable assessments on market research and profits are very important

Implementation and lesson learned

Mushroom product of Ngoc Dong Co.

Mushroom bracket made from agricultural

wastes

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CP + Product modification/improvement

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Concept:Redesign and benchmarking in combination with CP

In-practice examples:70 companies in Cycle 1 (2011) in 3 sectors (handicraft, furniture and food processing)

Implementation and lesson learned

Leaf collection by Han Hanh Co.

Lesson learned:-Product selection is very essential-Solutions must be practical, both qualitative and quantitative, and regularly updated

Blue and white collection by An Do Co.

Lace collection by Viet Quang Co.

AnDo Ceramics, Bat Trang “When we introduced these new products, even national producers and Bat Trang pottery craftsman did not believe that An Do was able to produce such delicate, light and sophisticated products”.“In the upcoming years, the orientation of An Do is keeping moving towards cleaner production and sustainable product innovation to increase the product value and reduce environmental impacts”.

Name: Vu Thi Cam TuFunction: Director An Do Age: 36

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Product strategy

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Product strategy:Develop a simple and practical CP-D4S strategy for company with a practical focus that can bring in the measurably tangible results.

In-practice examples:- Cau Tre Co.: To develop company’s product brand identification and new product line- Thuy Phu Lang Co.: To make use of traditional product characteristics

Lesson learned-Most of Vietnamese SMEs do not have product strategy-Need to combine strategy with specific intervention to re-/new-design products

Implementation and lesson learned

Product of Thuy Phu Lang Co.

B2B (Business to Business) initiative (company clustering

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In-practice examples:- Horizontal clustering: Dong Trieu households- Vertical clustering: X4 & Ngoc Dong companies

Lesson learnedEnterprises are more encouraged to implement innovation together with other firms in their sector or supply chain

Implementation and lesson learned

Terra Cotta products manufactured by Dong Trieu households. B2B initiative clustering helped them in the way of fostering implementation and learning process among businesses

Concept:To connect businesses -in the same sector to collaborate in production improvement -or in the same supply chain to improve system sustainability

Community development through system innovation

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Concept:Enhance the flow of technology and information among people, enterprises and institutions for a sustainable development of community

In-practice examples:Suoi Giang tea project: Making waste a great resource for Hmong people in the mountainous area.Provide equipment and technologies that are combined to form a closed-loop waste management model, thus producing useful products for the community.

Lesson learned:System innovation requires commitment, but can lead to a more effective result.

Gasifier – an improved cooking stove – uses agricultural wastes for effective burning and causes less environmental impacts

Implementation and lesson learned

• There are huge potentials for sustainable product innovation in design and processing SMEs;

• There is a need for national capacity building in VN, Laos and Cambodia on sustainable product innovation;

• Policy should be made for encouraging sustainable product (labeling, economic instruments, etc.);

• Awareness of consumers should be raised for market pull effects.

Closing Remarks

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Thank you!Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre4th floor C10 Bldg Hanoi University of Science & TechnologyDai Co Viet Road, Hanoi – VIETNAMTei; (84-4) 3868 4849; Fax: (84-4) 3868 1618Email: vncpc@vncpc.org; Website: www.vncpc.org