MARKET DEVELOPMENT
MPOB: LCA Critical Tool in Meeting Market Demands
MPOB: LCA Critical Tool in Meeting Market Demands
12/12/2014 (Daily Express) - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a basic building block for the application of environmental management systems, especially for industry.
Dr Vijaya Subramaniam, the Environment Research Group Leader and Principal Research Officer from Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Bangi, Selangor, said LCA is a critical tool in meeting consumer and market demands, given that Malaysia is pushing to move its industrial sector from up and mid-stream to the down-stream end of the production line, together with the increasing value placed on environmentally sustainable products.
She said this in her presentation during the one-day training stint on Life Cycle Assessment, organised by Ensearch Sabah Branch at Wisma Wanita, here.
"In a globalised market place, understanding and applying LCA is vital for marketing of products as it forms the basis for labelling.
The environmental standard for products and services is developed through the International Organisation of Standards (ISO) Environmental Management System series of standards. The application of LCA is under one of these standards," she said.
According to Dr Vijaya, a much-sought after speaker at national and international events, these standards are reviewed every three years to ensure relevancy to market needs.
Her area of research focuses on the discipline of Life Cycle Assessment for palm oil and the oil palm industry, water footprint, carbon footprint, sustainability and recovery of residual oil (waste to wealth program).
She revealed that the application of LCA to Malaysian products has many times been the only reason why they have been acceptable to be supplied and marketed abroad in high-value markets.
The key speaker has many publications mainly on LCA of the oil palm industry in the Journal of Oil Palm Research, American Journal of Geoscience, American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin and International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. She has also published book chapters for the MPOB and Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
The objectives of the training programme were to introduce participants to the fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment; to demonstrate the steps for implementation; and to provide Malaysian case examples through lectures, problem-solving exercise, participants' case scenarios as well as Q&A session.
It was attended by 20 participants who represented WWF, Yayasan Sabah Group – Conservation & Management, Rakyat Berjaya, POIC, KL Kepong, DHI, Chemsain, ATA Planners and UMS, among other organisations.
Also present were the Chairman of Ensearch, Sabah Branch, Ahmad Tariq Aripen and Executive Committee members.
Dr Vijaya Subramaniam, the Environment Research Group Leader and Principal Research Officer from Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), Bangi, Selangor, said LCA is a critical tool in meeting consumer and market demands, given that Malaysia is pushing to move its industrial sector from up and mid-stream to the down-stream end of the production line, together with the increasing value placed on environmentally sustainable products.
She said this in her presentation during the one-day training stint on Life Cycle Assessment, organised by Ensearch Sabah Branch at Wisma Wanita, here.
"In a globalised market place, understanding and applying LCA is vital for marketing of products as it forms the basis for labelling.
The environmental standard for products and services is developed through the International Organisation of Standards (ISO) Environmental Management System series of standards. The application of LCA is under one of these standards," she said.
According to Dr Vijaya, a much-sought after speaker at national and international events, these standards are reviewed every three years to ensure relevancy to market needs.
Her area of research focuses on the discipline of Life Cycle Assessment for palm oil and the oil palm industry, water footprint, carbon footprint, sustainability and recovery of residual oil (waste to wealth program).
She revealed that the application of LCA to Malaysian products has many times been the only reason why they have been acceptable to be supplied and marketed abroad in high-value markets.
The key speaker has many publications mainly on LCA of the oil palm industry in the Journal of Oil Palm Research, American Journal of Geoscience, American Journal of Environmental Sciences, Palm Oil Engineering Bulletin and International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. She has also published book chapters for the MPOB and Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities.
The objectives of the training programme were to introduce participants to the fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment; to demonstrate the steps for implementation; and to provide Malaysian case examples through lectures, problem-solving exercise, participants' case scenarios as well as Q&A session.
It was attended by 20 participants who represented WWF, Yayasan Sabah Group – Conservation & Management, Rakyat Berjaya, POIC, KL Kepong, DHI, Chemsain, ATA Planners and UMS, among other organisations.
Also present were the Chairman of Ensearch, Sabah Branch, Ahmad Tariq Aripen and Executive Committee members.