NCPC launches international conference on ‘Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy’

At the head table from right: NCPC Chairman Gamini Gunasekara, Austria Recycling Senior Technical Expert Markus Moller, INSEE Ecocycle Director Sanjeewa Chulakumara, MAS Kreeda Director – Sustainable Business Eranthi Premarathna, Prof. Ajith de Alwis – University of Moratuwa and NCPC CEO Eng. Samantha Kumarasena

The National Cleaner Production Centre – Sri Lanka (NCPCSL) held a media briefing on 3 December at the Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) on account of launching its first Sri Lankan conference on ‘Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy’.

This international conference which will be the first of its kind to be held in Sri Lanka will take place on 21 January 2010 at Waters Edge as a full day event. 

INSEE Ecocycle, the pioneering company for professional waste management, has come forward to be the platinum sponsor for the event with the aim of promoting the resource efficiency and circular economy among the local industrialists. Wijaya Products Ltd. and MAS Holdings have also joined hands with NCPC as valued sponsors for this important event.  

NCPC Chairman Gamini Gunasekera explaining the purpose of the event mentioned that the NCPC is the leading agency in Sri Lanka advocating and promoting tools and techniques applicable in Circular economy during the past two decades. It has played the pioneer role in bringing the international knowledge to the country and creates an impact on ground level. NCPC has again taken up the leadership to disseminate the essential knowledge to the nation and propagate the circular economy initiatives mainly working with industries and businesses. 

NCPC has initiated the first Sri Lankan conference on ‘Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy’ purely for the purpose of introducing these two topics to the country. Therefore, our purpose of conducting this conference is to bring these developing topics to the attention of the Sri Lankan Industrialists as well as policy makers to get them updated to face the challenges of the era.

NCPC CEO Samantha Kumarasena briefing the media explained that the circular economy includes improving the resource efficiency (mainly related to water, energy and material utilisation) throughout the value chain and resource circulation through end of life recovery, reuse and recycling. In addition to that, the circular economy is posturing the system approach to achieve dematerialisation and shared use of resources.

He said that they were hopeful the first Sri Lankan conference on ‘Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy’ would create an impact among masses by passing the international knowledge and updates on this topic. That would make an eye opener and lead the industries and businesses to create novel circular economy solutions for the existing problems.

He further mentioned that the proposed one-day international conference would have a thematic session in the morning where the renowned scholar Dr. Rene Van Berkel, Head of UNIDO operations in the South Asian Region, would make the key note presentation. 

In addition to that, Dr. Malini Balakrishnan and Dr. Vidya Badra from The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) – India, Dr. Rajat Badra from Stenum Asia, Markus Moller from Austria Recycling, Austria are some of the other presenters in the conference.

In the afternoon session, there would be parallel sessions on resource efficiency and cleaner production, resource circulation, life cycle management sound chemicals management and energy management.

Registration is now open for interested parties who need to enhance their knowledge in this field. NCPC encourage local industries to participate for the event and apply resource efficiency and circular economy concept in their facilities. For registration, please contact Lakmini or Nimali at NCPC.