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. Being one of the 12 pilot companies, Chigo has already accompanied the SWITCH-Asia project since its beginning and also participated in the Regional Launch Event in Shunde in October 2010 as well as an on-site assessment in May 2011.

The agenda of the two workshops consisted of detailed presentations by project partners and experts on laws, regulations and standards affecting the electrical and electronics sector as well as targeted training on environmental strategy, product life cycle management and eco-design. Moreover experts from TÜV Rheinland delivered presentations on product carbon footprint assessment and energy efficiency measures.

The workshops provided participants with practical tools for implementing sustainable and environmentally compliant production methods. By building up the capacity of its suppliers, the workshops successfully contributed to the improvement of environmental and safety standards along Chigo’s supply chain.