On the occasion of the National Launch Event on 2nd September 2011 a number of enterprises of the electrical and electronics industry in China participated in a declaration ceremony during the event’s concluding session. The Chinese companies jointly agreed to comply with a declaration expressing their support for environmental impact reductions and the Conformity Model - one of the project’s key documents. The ceremony included a declaration announcement and joint agreement by the enterprises followed by a questions and answers session.
Facilitating Sustainability and Business Partnerships Interview with Alexandra Voss
In April 2011 Ms. Alexandra Voss was appointed as Delegate and Chief Representative of the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce Beijing and Executive Director and Member of the Board of the German Chamber of Commerce in China. She is responsible for overall strategic design, planning and implementation of the SWITCH-Asia project. In particular, Ms. Voss leads the project’s Policy Advisory Committee and supervises the liaison with project partners and associate partner Deutsche Telekom.
Two SME Training Workshops in Guangdong 23 – 26 August, Foshan
Following the successful completion of the project’s Pilot Training and Assessment Programme, two-day training workshops were conducted in Foshan from 23rd to 26th August 2011, with the support of the South China Household Electric Appliances Research Institute. More than 280 participants attended, including representatives from the Chinese Institute of Electronics (CIE), the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) and Renmin University as well as managers and engineers from Guangdong Chigo Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. and its suppliers.
Pilot SME Assessment at Ori-Color Group 10 June 2011, Qingdao, Shandong Province
After the Pilot SME Assessments held respectively in Shanghai, Foshan, Zhaoqing and Linyi another Pilot SME Assessment took place on 10th June 2011 at the production base of the Qingdao Ori-Color Group. The main purpose of this visit was to assess the company’s current situation on Eco-efficiency, OHS and CSR. A supplier for Hisense, Ori-Color produces a variety of products for electronic goods. The pilot SME has already accompanied the SWITCH Project since its beginning and also participated in the Pilot Training Workshop in Qingdao in April 2010.
Pilot SME Assessment at Tongfang Luying 9 June 2011, Linyi, Shandong Province
In the course of the Pilot SME Assessment Programme, the project team paid a visit to the headquarters and manufacturing site of Shandong Tsinghua Tongfang Luying Electronic Co., Ltd. on 9th June 2011 to evaluate the company’s current situation on Eco-efficiency, OHS and CSR. Luying is specialized in manufacturing a variety of ceramic capacitors and multilayer chip inductors. Being one of the 12 pilot SMEs, it has already accompanied the SWITCH Project since its beginning and participated in the Pilot Training Workshop in Qingdao as well as an on-site baseline assessment in April 2010.
Pilot SME Assessment at Fenghua 2 June 2011, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province
As part of the Pilot SME Assessment Programme, the project team visited the production base of Guangdong Fenghua Advanced Technology (Holding) Co., Ltd. on 2nd June 2011 to assess the company’s current situation with regards to Eco-efficiency, OHS and CSR. Fenghua focuses on R&D, production, marketing and export of new electronic components and electronic materials. As a pilot SME of the SWITCH Project, the company has been involved in the Capacity Building Programme already for more than one year and participated in several training activities, including the Pilot Training Workshop in Dongguan, Guangdong Province in April 2010.
As part of the Pilot SME Assessment Programme, the project team visited the production base of Guangdong Chigo Air Conditioning Co., Ltd. on 26th May 2011 to assess the company’s current situation on Eco-efficiency, OHS and CSR. Chigo designs, develops and manufactures air conditioners for domestic and international markets. Being one of the 12 pilot SMEs, it has already accompanied the SWITCH Project since its beginning and also participated in the Regional Launch Event in Shunde in October 2010.
Life Cycle Assessment Software Available to Chinese SMEs May 2011
Our SWITCH-Asia project established a cooperation with the EU-funded project Life Cycle Innovation & Management for SMEs (LiMaS) supported by the "CIP Eco-Innovation - Market Replication". As a result, the project team translated a software tool developed by the LiMaS project into Chinese language. In particular the LiMaS project developed a life cycle assessment software tool for Energy-using Products (EuP).
Interview with Luo Yunhua, Shanghai BOSHI April 2011, Shanghai
In the course of our on-site assessment at the pilot SME Shanghai BOSHI on 7th April 2011 an interview was conducted with its General Manager in order to find out more about the company’s situation with regards to environmental and safety standards and its key challenges.
Pilot SME Assessment at Shanghai BOSHI 7 April 2011, Shanghai
Since 2009, a series of pilot training activities have been held by the SWITCH-Asia Project for Chinese SMEs in the electrical and electronic industry. With a view to finding out how these workshops have positively influenced the SMEs, the Project Consortium organized field visits to the pilot companies' manufacturing facilities.
Regional Launch Events during the 2nd Project Year in 5 Regions August 2010 – January 2011
The regional launch events have been implemented in 5 target regions prior to the national launch event. Over 100 local SMEs in the electrical and electronic industry attended the events in each region together with local governmental bodies and organisations. The regional launch events built awareness on the project themes and objectives and introduced the potential benefits to target SMEs for participating in the capacity building and assessment programme.
Fifth Regional Launch Event 24 January 2011, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
With a view to raising project awareness among regional policy-makers and increasing the outreach of training and certification activities to SMEs of the electrical and electronics industry in the Zhejiang area, a fifth Regional Launch Event was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province on 24th January 2011 following up from the previous events organized respectively in Jinan on 13th August, in Huizhou on 16th September, in Shunde on 28th October 2010 and in Nanjing on 10th December 2010.
Article on Electronics and Electrical Industry in China, GC Ticker December 2010 – January 2011
China successfully took over first place in producing electrical and electronic goods – but the fast economic success has left the environment behind. Back in the '80s, this sector was still in its infancy. China introduced economic reforms and an open door policy. At that time, excessive production capacity in the military industrial complex was converted into manufacturing lines for basic home appliances such as TV sets and refrigerators.
Fourth Regional Launch Event 10 December 2010, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province
With a view to raising project awareness among regional policy-makers and increasing the outreach of training and certification activities to SMEs of the electrical and electronics industry in the Jiangsu area, a fourth Regional Launch Event was held in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province on 10th December 2010 following up from the previous events organized respectively in Jinan on 13th August, in Huizhou on 16th September and in Shunde on 28th October 2010.
Third Regional Launch Event 28 October 2010, Shunde, Guangdong Province
With a view to raising project awareness among regional policy-makers and increasing the outreach of training and certification activities to SMEs of the electrical and electronics industry in the Shenzhen Industrial Zone area, a third Regional Launch Event was held in the city of Shunde, Guangdong Province on 28th October 2010 following up from previous events organized in Jinan on 13th August 2010 and Huizhou on 16th September 2010.
Second SWITCH-Asia Networking Event 12-14 October 2010, Beijing
The second SWITCH-Asia Networking Event took place in Beijing, from 12-14 October. The event gathered representatives from SWITCH-Asia programme funded projects, representatives from the EC headquarters in Brussels and its Delegations in Asia, as well as representatives of stakeholders and networks in the field of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) in Asia and Europe.
Second Regional Launch Event 16 September 2010, Huizhou, Guangdong
With a view to raising project awareness among regional policy-makers and increasing the outreach of training and certification activities to SMEs of the electrical and electronics industry in the Pearl River Delta area, a second Regional Launch Event was held in the city of Huizhou, Guangdong Province on 16th September 2010 following up from the previous event organized in Jinan on 13th August 2010.
First Regional Launch Event 13 August 2010, Jinan, Shandong Province
With a view to raising project awareness among regional policy-makers and increasing the outreach of training and certification activities to 100 SMEs of the electrical and electronics industry in the Bohai Basin, the 1st Regional Launch Event was held in the city of Jinan, the capital Shandong Province.
Fifth Pilot SME Training Workshop 2-3 August 2010, Beijing
With a view to expanding the project pilot phase outreach to the Bohai Basin area, the 5th Pilot SMEs Training Workshop was held in the city of Beijing.
Online Multimedia Training for SMEs July 2010, Beijing
As part of a comprehensive scaling up and sustainability strategy, the project is developing an e-learning platform for SMEs of the electrical and electronics industry of China.
Interview with Karsten Schischke, Fraunhofer IZM July 2010, Beijing
In the framework of our SWITCH-Asia project, you have designed training materials, conducted 3 training workshops in Dongguan, Qingdao and Shanghai, several on-site factory visits and a train the trainer session in Beijing. What is your overall impression of the project approach in promoting sustainable production patterns among Chinese SMEs of the electrical and electronics sector?
SWITCH-Asia Programme Workshop 2 July 2010, Beijing
The AHKB-lead project consortium participated in a one day workshop co-organized by the EU Delegation to China and Mongolia and the SWITCH-Asia Network Facility on 2nd July. Held in the premises of the EU Delegation in Beijing, the event gathered all SWITCH-Asia projects currently implemented in either China or Mongolia.
SWITCH-Asia at the 18th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development 12 May 2010, New York
A side event at the 18th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development highlighted the approach of the European Union funded SWITCH-Asia programme that goes beyond demonstration and focuses on scaling-up of best practices of sustainable consumption and production (SCP). It showcased the contribution of the SWITCH-Asia projects towards poverty alleviation and resource conservation.
First Policy Tour to Europe 6-12 May 2010, Germany and Belgium
Within the framework of the SWITCH-Asia project, the first Policy Tour to Europe for Chinese governmental officials working in the fields of resource efficiency and waste management was organized during the period from 6th to 12th May 2010 in Germany and Belgium.
Third Pilot SME Training Workshop 12-13 April 2010, Qingdao
The 3rd Pilot SMEs Training Workshop was held on 12th and 13th of April 2010 in the city of Qingdao, one of the leading industrial centers in the Bohai Basin area and host to 2 blue chip home appliance manufacturers in China – Haier and Hisense.
Second Pilot SME Training Workshop 7-8 April 2010, Dongguan
With a view to expanding the project pilot phase outreach to the Guangdong area, the 2nd Pilot SMEs Training Workshop was held in the city of Dongguan which is regarded as an important cluster for small and medium EE manufacturers.
Video Trailer on Occupational Health & Safety March 2010, China / Bangladesh
The video trailer introduces relevant aspects of Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) in relation to SWITCH-Asia Projects in China and Bangladesh. Through including interviews with workers and project experts as well as footage of manufacturing sites the trailer offers useful pointers on key OHS issues and provides an insight of prevailing working conditions at Asian factories.
Interview with Stefan Hoffmann-Kuhnt, Siemens Ltd., China February 2010, Beijing
One of the key aspects of the SWITCH-Asia Project is corporate responsibility. What does corporate responsibility mean to Siemens?
Responsible corporate leadership is a prerequisite for being accepted by society and achieving lasting success. We are a global player whose activities have a broad impact on customers, employees, shareholders, the environment and society as a whole. For us corporate responsibility means that we ensure the success and the future of our company by taking into account economic, social, ethical and environmental aspects, and that we establish clear and transparent standards for our company.
First Pilot SME Training Workshop 28-29 December 2009, Shenzhen
As one of the project’s 5 target locations and a prominent industrial cluster for electrical and electronic industry in China, Shenzhen was selected by the consortium as host city for the first pilot SMEs workshop.
On 21 April 2009, a one-day regional awareness event took place in Beijing as part of a seminar on waste of electrical and electronic equipment and active reduction of industrial environment impact. The event was intended to introduce the SWITCH-Project to participants and to discuss the management regulation on disposal and recycling of wasted electrical and electronic products (Chinese WEEE).
