Resource Efficient Supply Chain for Metal Products in Building Sector in South Asia (METABUILD)

The overall objectives of the project are (a) creating improved production processes of metal components (e.g. structural steel) for the building and construction sector in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, (b) contributing to improved environmental quality in the target locations, and (c) creating improved working and living conditions in the target countries Enhance Innovation and competitiveness: Promoting Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) in the metal industry will help to reduce business risks (such as the risk of production break due to a lack of water or energy), improve the working conditions, reduce costs, gain new customers looking for sustainable and reliable suppliers, improve access to (green) finance (in part through improved compliance on environmental parameters and through targeted engagements for specific bank schemes), and propel the company towards global competitiveness The project's target industries cover:  Rolling - Roofing sheets, steel sheets for construction, deformed bars, bar rods, channels and other structural sections  Drawing - Pipes for water supply, structural pipes, wires for electrical cables, wires for meshes  Fabrication - Gates, windows, stairs, grills, trusses and beams, fabricated sheds, sheet metal lamps, lighting poles  Foundry - Non-ferrous castings for bathroom fittings or light fittings, ferrous castings for manhole covers, grills, cast pipes,  Metal finishing - Plating, painting or anodizing of metal (Aluminium or steel) windows frames, gates, structural steel, bathroom fittings The project will improve the environmental / economic performance of the SMEs by:  Exposing target SMEs to relevant Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production (RECP) technologies.  Exposing target SMEs to training on resource efficiency using the ECO PROFIT approach. This is expected to lead to increased use of environmentally friendly practices and enhanced sustainable production technologies in metal sector SMEs.  Creating awareness among major customers and government bodies on measures that can be adopted by SMEs and specific policy and financial support needed to facilitate this. This will lead to customers who are sensitized to adopt a green supply chain. Further government bodies will be able to better communicate with SMEs using improved schemes and policies.  Creating structures for the replication of project outcomes in the region. This is achieved through: o Best practice RECP examples established, shared and replicated o Local consultants trained and exposed to RECP experience o Dialogue between technology suppliers for RECP technologies, financing institutions, project team members and SMEs to explore possibilities of financing models, technology transfer, tie-up, after sales support, branding etc. Application of RECP in the metal industry also mitigates business risks, improves working conditions, wins new customers looking for sustainable and reliable suppliers and champions a better environment footprint. The potential of the local SMEs in the metal sector can be augmented through RECP by reducing energy consumption and improving resource efficiency through-out the entire supply chain. This also adds the competitive edge to the industry. Having completed initial assessments in more than 25 companies we have some remarkable success stories to show as our own. The RECP implementations carried out by these companies have yielded annual cost savings over 14 million LKR so far which is a remarkable achievement gained by the companies themselves with the cooperation of the METABUILD team For the interested industries in the construction sector under the scope of METABUILD project can contact the responsible person in NCPC for METABUILD project and join with it.