Background Issues:

• The UNIDO/UNEP Green Industry Platform was established with the objective of mainstreaming social and environmental considerations into the operations of enterprises in all countries and regions through the more efficient use of energy and raw materials, innovative practices and applications of new green technologies.
• It provides a framework to bring together governmental, business and civil society leaders to secure concrete commitments and mobilize action in support of the Green Industry agenda and aims to contribute both to cleaner and more competitive industrial development and to help reduce pollution and reliance on unsustainable use of natural resources.

• increased opportunities to help create new jobs;
• grow sustainable economic development;
• encourage the rapid transition to a resource-efficient and green economy and alleviate poverty; 
• reduced waste and increased efficiency of manufacturing activities
• and accompanying improvements in organizational/national competitiveness
• improved information and awareness about the benefits of Green Industry and on relevant policies and practices worldwide
• expanded networking and partnering opportunities on Green Industry policies
• increased opportunities to help shape national/organizational road maps towards Green Industry and to co-develop specific projects
• enhanced attention of capital market investors seeking to reduce exposure to commodity price fluctuations and related risks
• greater opportunities to inspire and engage employees in innovation of manufacturing technologies, management and policy approaches
• higher recognition of leadership in the expanding Green Industry space.

Introducing the Green Industry Platform, UNIDO 2011 (Available to download)

• Green Economy benefits have been identified as: more resilient supply chains; new investment opportunities; increased consumer demand for sustainable goods and services; sales growth and duration of sales; training and job creation; reduced dependency on natural resources; mitigation against the negative financial risk from environmental impact.

Drivers of change are identified as: 

• Resource pressure: between 2010 and 2030, demand is projected to grow by 33 per cent for primary energy, by 80 per cent for steel, by 27 per cent for food (cereals) and by 41 per cent for water.
• This combined with risks and environmental stresses derived from climate change, such as water and land availability and biodiversity loss, means that the pressures on these resources are considerable and likely to grow.
• Other drivers: constraints in production, consumer demand

The Business Case For The Green Economy,UNEP 2012 ((Available to download)

• Resource efficiency savings potential: at the company level in the United Kingdom, annual savings stemming from resource efficiency improvements have grown per company from EUR 21,000 in 2006, to EUR 60,000 in 2009.
• Russia’s ferrous foundries could save up to USD 3.3 billion per year through improved resource efficiency,
• while the German manufacturing sector can potentially achieve up to EUR 48 billion in annual savings through efficiency improvements and the resulting material savings.
• At the global level, estimates posit that EUR 2.65 trillion can be saved by the year 2030 through the implementation of widespread resource productivity measures and the adoption of conducive legislative frameworks.