There are different viewpoints about the Green Manufacturing approach. One of the most-widely accepted interpretations of Green Manufacturing is manufacturing of "green" products, by using renewable energy systems and clean technologies.

The Green Manufacturing aims at reducing pollution and waste by minimising use of natural resource, recycling and reusing waste and reducing emissions.

Enhanced value through 'Green' approach
The demand is growing for environment-friendly products - the products manufactured with low energy consumption, organic raw material, lead-free paints, recyclable packaging - indicating that the global consumers are getting more concerned about the environment.

This gives the corporates an opportunity to promote environment-friendly or "green" products, which will give them the competitive advantage for doing business globally, and an enhanced brand perception.

While it is an imperative for export-oriented companies to have a Green Manufacturing (GM) strategy, we feel that it needs to be an integral part of the organisational strategy. The GM strategy needs to be enacted with defined goals for the short, medium and long term.

More and more Indian companies have now begun adopting green approach in some or the other way, as it is being realised that Green Manufacturing can be implemented across the value chain - right from the Design stage to the Waste Management stage, and post the usage by consumers.

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