Western Australian Sustainable Industry Group

WA SIG functioned as a multi-stakeholder platform of business, public sector, environment, engineering and education professionals committed to a clean and competitive Western Australia and to advance the business case and agenda for sustainable development.

WA SIG worked towards the vision where WA businesses, large and small, lead by example in addressing local and global sustainable development challenges, by delivering innovative, competitively-priced goods and services that bring quality of life, while progressively reducing environmental impact and resource intensity.

WA SIG fostered dialogue on how local, national and international experience can best be utilised for the development and implementation of environment and sustainable development related policies and strategies, in particular those affecting businesses; and partners with other organisations in the public and non government sectors to raise general awareness and understanding of sustainable development issues and the opportunities it presents to Western Australia.

Established in 1999, WA SIG was a member of the Regional Network of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Signatory to the International Declaration on Cleaner Production administered through the Division of Industry, Technology and Economics of the United Nations Environment Programme.

From 1999 to 2004, WA SIG was facilitated by the Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production, Curtin University of Technology, which in turn was supported by the WA Waste Management and Recycling Fund, CSBP Limited, Alcoa World Alumina, Newmont, Western Power, the Department of Industry and Resources, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA. During this period, WA SIG succeeded in putting Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production firmly on the agenda of business, government and the community, through its 'learning by sharing' programme and the WA Cleaner Production Statement.

From 2005, major support through the Centre of Excellence in Cleaner Production was no longer possible, and WA SIG wound back its activities to networking and information sharing on eco-efficiency, in particular through the Eco-Efficient Entrepreneur Series.

WA SIG's Charter outlines the vision, mission, outcomes and planned activities of the group.

The WASIG Charter

Vision
The Sustainable Industry Group will assist in creating a cleaner Western Australia.

Mission
The Sustainable Industry Group will assist in promoting the development of cleaner industries in Western Australia. The Sustainable Industry Group will act as a catalyst for industry to achieve sustainable development by promoting the tools of Cleaner Production and Eco-Efficiency.

Outcome Statement
The Sustainable Industry Group will work to improve the understanding of sustainable development in Western Australia including the business opportunities it presents. Through the network that has been established, the Group will also promote the roles Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production can play in achieving this.

Activities
The Sustainable Industry Group will work to implement the following activities:

• Seminars, lectures and conferences
• Site visits
• Central access to case studies and expertise
• Development and publicity of a Western Australian database of best practice
• Promote innovators in Western Australia through for example relevant awards
• Workshops ("how to" sessions to transfer "hands on" skills)
• Provide input and advice on related publications for industry
• Encourage demonstration projects to facilitate the uptake of sustainable development
• Identify obstacles to Eco-Efficiency and Cleaner Production and work towards overcoming these
• Encourage members to identify their own opportunities