In the recent time after the technical revolutions people had gone after GO GREEN concepts for most of their commodities. Is that possible? Yes, it should implement some environmentally friendly process for all the industries on the planet earth as we do have to save it for many more generations ahead. Industrial production consumes huge amounts of the world's resources. 

What is Green Productivity? 

Green productivity is a strategy to simultaneously improve productivity and environmental performance for socio-economic development in general, it is the application of green productivity methods, which include techniques, technologies and an adequate management system, to produce environmentally friendly goods and services for sustainable quality improvement. From this combined application of appropriate environmental management and productivity tools, techniques and technologies that reduce the environmental impact of an organization's activities, products and services while improving profitability and competitive advantage

As Green Productivity focuses on productivity improvement and environmental protection, the central element of the Green Productivity methodology is the examination and re-evaluation of both production processes and products to reduce their environmental impacts and highlight ways to improve productivity and product quality. Implementation of these options leads on to another cycle of review and so promotes continuous improvement.

Green Productivity techniques are used to bring about the changes that will result in better environmental performance and improved productivity.  They range from simple housekeeping techniques to designing "green" products. Some of the techniques used in Green Productivity include, good housekeeping, design change, process modification, waste and water management, pollution prevention etc.

How can we implement the Green Productivity concept  in our lifestyle? 

In 1970, as a part of its green productivity initiative, Dow began a programme to encourage employees to find ways to reduce pollution. In the first few years, hundreds of suggestions were implemented, paying a return on investment (ROI) of almost 183 percent. Over the years, the ROI has increased to almost 300 percent.

When the DuPont Corporation  decided to implement the Green Productivity projects in pursuing green productivity mainly to reduce their impact on the environment. DuPont focused on eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness. Instead of just making the same products more efficiently, they focused on making better products - products that performed the same functions as the old ones, but in new ways that were radically more productive, and had much less impact on the environment.

Individual companies, national and local governments can adopt green productivity principles as an integral part of their manufacturing, or as a policy option to improve the local environment. The best place and the best individual is home gardening with the family members. 

Green productivity is a dynamic strategy to harmonize economic growth and environmental protection for sustainable development. It offers small and medium businesses a way to achieve a competitive advantage by doing better with less. It is thus a practical strategy to increase productivity and protect the environment simultaneously.

Traditional methods of pollution control were not cost-effective. The concept of green productivity assures profitability and resource productivity. Businesses and communities get multiple returns in the form of bottom-line savings; value added products and services, and environmental protection.

Having a good green productivity programme -

• increases profitability
• improves health and safety
• makes quality products
• promotes environmental protection
• ensures regulatory compliance
• enhances company image
• raises morale
• leads to sustainable development

Green productivity uses a set of management tools, techniques and technologies to encourage innovation and a continuous cycle of productivity gains. The result is competitive enterprises, preservation of the natural resources, and a better quality of life. 

Green Productivity and the WSSD

The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) have identified three primary objectives in realizing sustainable development, namely:

●       Efficient productive use of resources

●       Environmental protection

●       Poverty reduction.

Green productivity rooted in the concept of doing more with less, is a crucial strategy in achieving these goals. A number of the goals of green productivity will help achieve the above objectives of WSSD. 

These include -

• Greening the supply chain by leveraging the purchasing power of the private sector.
• Water resource management, through innovative approaches to using Earth's most precious resource.
• Energy efficiency by enhancing the use of renewable resources to reduce costs and emissions
• Clean development mechanism, as a market tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Solid waste management, by reduction at source, proper treatment and recycling

Methodology of Green Productivity 

• Getting started is an easy task. Identifying the people who are going to be involved and forming a Green Productivity team marks the beginning. These people, led by a champion, walk through and survey the site or facility and record first impressions. This allows the team to gather baseline data and identify areas where there may be a problem. This data gathering activity is made even easier through the use of Eco-mapping, a simple, visual and practical tool for gathering, analysing and managing the environmental performance, which is especially suited to smaller enterprises. It is vital to have senior management’s buy-in to ensure that adequate resources are available for successful implementation.
• Planning allows an organization to leverage the information gained in the first step to analyse the potential for improvement, along with analytical tools such as material balance, bench marking, Eco-mapping and fishbone diagrams. Objectives and targets can be established and performance indicators identified to help guide the improvement process, allowing the company to manage and measure progress.
• Generation and Evaluation of Green Productivity Options involves the development of options to meet the objectives and targets formulated in planning. It involves a review of prevention of pollution and application of existing or new control procedures to support the development of the options to enhance productivity. Options are screened against performance indicators. Those most likely to net the economic and technical results desired are given first priority; the company is now ready for action.
• Implementation of Green Productivity Options involves two actions, preparation and execution. Preparatory work includes awareness building, training and the development of competencies. If new equipment or systems are required, these are installed along with the operator instruction and hands on training to ensure success.
•  Monitoring and Review of the new Green Productivity options is vital to check to see that they are producing or exceeding the anticipated results. This includes monitoring the whole system to ensure that it is on track and performing as designed. Findings are reported for review by management.
•  Sustaining Green Productivity requires action to correct where necessary or to build on existing success. Having a feedback loop is essential to keep progress on track and to respond to the changing circumstances imposed by internal and external drivers including customer expectations, the environment and other innovations that may accelerate the greening of productivity.

How we can introduce the Green Productivity to Gardening

We can easily practice backyard gardening or food and flora garden landscaping for optimum benefits of the land use as it is a very limited resource these days. The green productivity methodologies can be applied in many ways to conserve the surroundings of our home garden. We have to reduce most of the agro chemicals and most of chemically synthesized fertilizers and substitute them with more effective organic or bio based products.  The very important concept for the Green Productivity accepts in gardening is your mind and artistic inspiration for a flawless green garden which is not make any harm to soil, air and water. The rhythmic movements of apo (Water),  thejo (Fire), wayo (Air) &  patawi (Earth/soil)  will protect your gardening, conserve the environment for everlasting years and nourish your soul for an enlightening inner core for a peaceful living. 

See you all in Gardening Tips for the betterment of your healthy living!