Photo: COWI, Elizabeth Pratt

SMEs improve environmental performance in Egypt 

With Danida funding, COWI and the Danish Technological Institute have assisted the Federation of Egypt Industries (FEI) in building an Environmental Compliance Office (ECO). ECO assists SMEs in introducing Cleaner Production, Environmental Management Systems and Energy Efficiency.

ECO is a consulting unit which provides environmental services to SMEs that are members of the FEI. These services are particularly directed at helping enterprises to introduce CP, EMS, Energy Efficiency and related services. At present, the chemical, engineering, food, foundry and textile sectors are in focus, but eventually all industrial sectors will be covered.

Capacity building

As part of the project COWI has trained staff from FEI/ECO and private Egyptian consulting firms in:

  • assessment of industries' environmental performance
  • assessment of cleaner technology options to be implemented
  • training methodology and reporting
  • communication and marketing
  • environmental management systems
  • occupational safety and health
  • energy efficiency
     
Photo: COWI, Elizabeth Pratt

Achievements

Just under 50 enterprises in five different sectors have received Danida loans to implement cleaner technology and energy efficient solutions. These solutions are show-cases for other companies in their sectors.

Extensive communication strategy

One of ECO's most important goals is to show that enterprises can improve their environmental performance and at the same time achieve an economic benefit. That is why dissemination of experience from specific industries is highly prioritized. An extensive communication strategy and action plan has been carried out, encompassing press media coverage, seminars, awareness training, advertisements, magazines, brochures and a video.