Product Stewardship

Good practices related to product stewardship that have the environmental impact of entire product life cycle – from raw material use, manufacturing and production, processes, product, use and disposal.

Waste Disposal Hierarchy

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, these 3 principles have driven people to produce amazing things from simple ideas – geared towards environmental awareness, energy savings and substainable living.

Waste minimization and recycling are key components of Singapore’s integrated waste management. In land-scarce Singapore, there are both economic and environmental imperatives to reduce waste. NEA has thus incorporated the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle in its strategies for environmental sustainability.

The best way to produce less waste is by practicing the 3 Rs :

Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard.
Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it.
Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content.

As a first step, a disposal fee is charged for waste disposed of at the incineration plants or landfill. Singapore has four waste-to-energy incineration plants and an offshore sanitary landfill. The disposal fee charged is based on full cost recovery to encourage waste minimization and recycling. Waste that are not segregated and recovered for recycling, are disposed of at the offshore landfill if the waste is non-incinerable. At the waste-to-energy incineration plants, heat is recovered to generate electricity, while ferrous metals are recovered for recycling.

Environmental indicators such as the environmental impacts of products and services, usage of energy, material and water, greenhouse gas, fine and penalties for non-comformance, etc.

Central Constructer consider the environment to be one of the most important and challenging components of sustainable development. There can be no doubt that human activity is changing the environmental landscape in a variety of ways including climate change, water availability, deforestation and land use. We are committed to improving our eco-efficiency in areas such as CO2 emissions, energy and water consumption and waste.

Social indicators such as labor practices, ethical behaviours

Central Constructer being a corporate social responsible organization, believed strongly in not just generating business profits but also in giving back to society at the best we can.

We hope to involve our customers in supporting World Vision, in its goal to help impoverished children around the world to live life in all its fullness.

Recommendations to stakeholders to conform to WSH related CSR requirements.

Wherever Central Constructer operate, we will :

Minimise the effect upon the environment.
Ensure the health and safety of team members, customers and other stakeholders.
Communicate openly on sustainability issues.
Maintain an open dialog with the local communities in which we operate.
Purchase from and sub-contract to companies who embrace sustainable development and ethical standards (Fair Trade).
Ensure that sustainability is a high priority for all team members.
Report upon our sustainability performance.
Set targets to improve upon performance and review progress.
Listen to feedback from stakeholders.
Comply with CP 79 Safety Management System for Construction Site – Element 12 Control of Movement and Use of Hazardous Substances

The objective is to ensure that the storage, movement, use and disposal of hazardous substances and chemicals are managed to minimise occurrence of incidents, which shall include flammable, toxic or corrosive substances. The procedures shall include the control of receipt, storage, labeling, distribution, use and final disposal of such substances. (Safety Data Sheet – SDS)

The Occupier shall establish a control program.

Relevant principles of product stewardship in accordance with organizational procedures.

Based on the International Council of Chemical Associations’ Guidelines on Product Stewardship, product stewardship is defined as the practice of making health, safety and environmental protection an integral part of the life cycle of the product. This can also be applied to the erection of a building, where care can be taken from the commencement till the completion of a building.

The principles of product stewardship are :

a) Responsible and pro-active management of the environment, health and safety (EHS) aspects of products throughout their entire life cycle.

Water-proofed marine ply woods were used in formworks erection as it will be able to be re-use a few times. Thus saving the trees.

b) Compare and contrast relations with sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

Company took the lead first by contributing to community funds. Donation was contributed by the company for each employee to Community Chest and Chinese Development Assistance Council.

c) Life cycle considerations for products.

Empty plastic containers that stored the chemical for water treatment equipment and metal drums for storing hazardous substances were returned to the Supplier for re-use.

d) An integrated business process involving all, not just a team of specialists.

Purchaser selected Supplier, Manufacturer, Disposer and Recycler who are also environmental curious companies.

e) Systematic management of risk at the earliest opportunity in an alert, pro-active, interested and open fashion.

Enable adequate protection of human, health and the environment.

f) A commitment to continually improve EHS performance of its operations.

Allocate adequate finance resources to ensure the effectiveness.

g) Open communications with interested parties.

Providing educational workshops and training materials relevant to the organisation’s business for Supplier, Manufacturer, Disposer and Recycler.

h) A means of competitive advantage.

Evaluation and avoidance of risk reduces the potential for harm and liabilities.

i) Strategic differentiation, leading to enhanced reputation with the authorities, customers, employees and the community at large.

A “value-added” business proposition.

j) Minimize product liability and likelihood at severe adverse issues or publicity.

Work instruction improvement.

Good practices that require conformance to product stewardship requirements.

Product stewardship good practices are as follow :

a) Recognize and respond to community concerns about chemicals and chemical related operations.

Toxic wastes, such as paint, tires, cleaning products are collected by Toxic Waste Collector.

b) Make EHS considerations a priority in planning for all existing and new products and processes.

Incorporating EHS considerations into design and development of technology.

c) Develop and produce chemicals that can be manufactured, transported, used and disposed of safely.

d) Extend knowledge by conducting or supporting research on the EHS effects of products, processes and waste materials.

Use of photovoltaic (PV) panels above roofing for supplying power to house.

e) Counsel customers on the safe use, transportation and disposal of chemical products.

A Business Risk Management that includes environmental, health and safety consideration.

f) Work with others to resolve problems created by past handling and disposal of hazardous substances.

In Singapore, the BCA Green Mark Scheme was launched as an initiative to drive Singapore’s construction industry towards more environment-friendly buildings. It is intended to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among Developers, Designers and Builders when they start project conceptualization and design, as well as during construction. Knowledge and experiences are shared in this scheme.

g) Report promptly to officials, employees, customers and the public, information on chemical-related health or environmental hazards and to recommend protective measures.

h) Promote the principles and practices of Responsible Care by sharing experiences and offering assistance to others who produce, handle, use, transport or dispose of chemicals.

Actions to be taken to conform to product stewardship requirements.

Actions to be taken as follow :

a) Obtain relevant codes.

Responsible care Product Stewardship Code of Management Practices.

b) Assess nature of operations and the relevance of codes and principles.

A necessary step is to evaluate the relevant risk assessment or risk management requirements such as :

Regulations or other legal obligations.
Company standards.
Customer requests.
Industry or company voluntary commitments.

c) Obtain top management commitment.

Strong and effective leadership ensures that product stewardship objectives are set and prioritized and practices are implemented to meet performance targets. The examples of demonstrating management commitment are as follow :

Communicate with employees on product stewardship matters.
Become trained in product stewardship principles and processes.
Allocate adequate resources to ensure the effectiveness of product stewardship programmes.
Develop clear values and expectations.

d) Apply for membership in relevant organization.

e) Identify product stewardship resources.

Companies may target training programs to include staff at all levels in the organization that will be involved in product stewardship activities.

f) Establish product stewardship committee.

The roles, responsibilities, authority and inter-relationships of key employees to be involved in the implementation of product stewardship should be defined.

g) Conduct initial self-evaluation, and compliance audit.

Individuals conducting the audit should be experienced in product stewardship practices and systems. Audit results should be communicated in such a way that the parties responsible can take appropriate corrective action. Providing audit results and reports of subsequent actions taken to company management can improve audit effectiveness.

h) Prepare product stewardship communication materials.

Product stewardship communication and training procedures should be established for employees throughout the organization who need to be aware of the importance of product stewardship requirements and their roles and responsibilities in meeting those requirements.

i) Evaluate management practices for possible improvements.

Periodically, the product stewardship system should be reviewed with company management to obtain support for ongoing implementation measures. It is also advisable to regularly review the management system to identify opportunities for continual improvement.

Consult relevant stakeholders on the recommended actions to be taken to conform with product stewardship requirements.

Stakeholders are as follow :

a) Employees.

b) Environmental advocacy groups.

c) Local community organisations.

d) Trading partners.

e) Customers.

f) Investors and insurers.

g) Media.

h) Public.

Review records on implementation of product stewardship management.

Records to be reviewed are as follow :

a) Record of use of chemical during product development.

All chemicals used must be stored, retrieved and used in accordance to the SDS provided by the supplier or manufacturer.

b) Record of disposal of waste chemical.

Proper waste disposal method methods have to be documented and all records kept on the type, amount and the method used to neutralize these chemicals before disposition.

c) Record of streamlining hazardous waste management.

Metal, plastics, paper, chemicals production toxic substances have to be treated separately and not mixed together.

d) Record hazardous waste minimization.

The best way to produce less waste is by practicing the 3 Rs :

Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard.
Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken or give it to someone who can repair it.
Recycle as much as possible, which includes buying products with recycled content.

Keeping records of all hazardous waste you need to record this and maintain a register of your records.
You must maintain records in a register, of each waste involved, if you are involved in the movement of hazardous waste. This includes :
its removal from your premises.
transport.
intermediate storage.
disposal or recovery.
Records of all hazardous substance must be retained and proper authorized or licensed agents should be appointed for its collection and disposition.

e) Records of end-of-life recycling effort in products.

Maintain records where hazardous waste is disposed, or recovered, at the same site as its production or storage.
As a producer, consignor, holder, carrier or consignee you need to :
keep records in a register of hazardous waste movements.
supply specified information to the relevant agencies or emergency services, as required.
If you are a consignee (you receive hazardous waste) you must also :
Keep records (showing waste locations on your site).
Provide returns to producers, holders or consignors.