Media Release: PARTNERSHIP PAYS OFF FOR BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PREMIER, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

DATE: Wednesday, July 5, 2006

PARTNERSHIP PAYS OFF FOR BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENT

Acting Premier and Environment Minister John Thwaites today announced $3 million in funding to assist small and medium-sized businesses in Victoria improve profitability and help the environment.

‘Grow Me The Money’, a joint initiative of EPA Victoria and VECCI, Victoria’s largest multi-industry group, will provide businesses with programs and tools to help them use materials, water, energy and other resources more efficiently.

The initiative will provide businesses with access to a comprehensive web portal, a telephone hotline and a rewards and recognition program.

Mr Thwaites said helping business become more sustainable was vital in ensuring a healthy future for Victoria.

“Resource efficiency in industry has a vital role to play in developing a sustainable state. What has become very clear is that the efficient use of resources and business profitability go hand in hand.”

“‘Grow Me The Money’ will help participating companies develop their own resource efficiency programs and benefit from the improved profits margins that can result.”

“The funding for the initiative has been sourced from revenue earned from government levies paid when waste is sent to landfill. This return to industry directly addresses environmental issues and aims to improve business viability.

“Since 1999, Victoria has undergone the most comprehensive environmental reform agenda in the state’s history with the Bracks Government spending over $1 billion on new environmental initiatives.”

EPA Victoria Chairman Mick Bourke said ‘Grow Me The Money’ was one of a number of initiatives EPA was jointly undertaking to help industry contribute to environmental improvement and business sustainability.

“Businesses, large and small, are re-thinking the way they produce goods and services so harm to the environment can be reduced,” Mr Bourke said.

“In developing the ‘Grow Me The Money’ initiative, VECCI and EPA Victoria have entered into a Sustainability Covenant to formally recognise the partnership in reducing environmental impacts and increasing the resource efficiency of products and services.

“Organisations like EPA and VECCI have a clear responsibility to support industry in their efforts to operate more sustainably and our partnership with VECCI means the programs and resources will be available to tens of thousands of Victorian businesses.”

“EPA has also collaborated with Sustainability Victoria, the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development and water authorities in shaping the concept for the ‘Grow Me The Money’ program.”

“VECCI’s CEO Mr Neil Coulson complimented the Victorian Government on its investment in the not-for-profit program.

“This program will succeed because it delivers simple, workable solutions for resource efficiency, and offers the chance for businesses to improve their profits.”

“For example, the Victorian manufacturing and food sectors have a combined production of $25 billion a year. If they could achieve resource efficiency savings of 2%, that could contribute more than $500 million in new profits each year.”

‘Grow Me The Money’ was launched at European automotive manufacturer, Redmond Repetition Engineers in Hoppers Crossing, a leading example of resource-efficient manufacturing.

‘Grow Me the Money’ will commence operation at three pilot sites in Shepparton, Melbourne CBD and Western Metropolitan regions, and will subsequently be gradually rolled out across Victoria.

For further information please call the ‘Grow Me The Money’ program office on (03) 8618 5608