As part of a collaborative technical advisory programme for SMEs, the Industrial Union of Argentina (UIA) and PAGE completes this November a series of visit to companies, started in August 2024, to offer direct support for circular production processes. This initiative aims to provide an analysis of key findings and improvement opportunities for SMEs, which will be included in a Management Manual for SMEs to be released by the end of the year.
Bringing green transition to SMEs practice in Argentina | 01/11/2024
PAGE and Industrial Union of Argentina join forces to provide direct support to SMEs on Green Transformation
One of the interesting things to see in on-site assistance visits is that, in sustainability issues at the factory level, labor relations are intrinsically intertwined with industrial relations: for example, quality control, resource efficiency, the disposal of surplus material for the circular economy, they directly involve the worker in the achievement of the efficiency objectives of the companies.
Laura Segura Chief Innovation Officer at UIA
Sustainability as a Strategic Asset
In the current global context, sustainability serves as a strategic asset that enhances a company’s long-term development and competitiveness. It not only increases operational efficiency and boosts productivity but also improves the company’s positioning in international markets.
As part of the UIA’s ‘Ruta X Verde” programme, PAGE Argentina is actively supporting the current phase by participating in advisory visits to companies and compiling case studies of the businesses assisted.
Joaquín Etorena, National Coordinator PAGE Argentina, highlights effective practices in companies, particularly in internal communication and risk management. At a medium-sized auto-parts factory, sustainability progress is shared with workers, and data on absenteeism due to floods and dengue is made visible. This accounts for nearly 25% of lost working days, emphasizing the impact of climate on health at work and enabling collaborative prevention and contingency planning.
The importance of building capacity in the green transition
As businesses worldwide increasingly prioritize sustainability, building capacity in sustainable productivity is becoming essential for the success of a green transition. Recognizing this, the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) launched a course on Sustainable Productivity for SMEs.
Laura Segura, Chief Innovation Officer at UIA, and Pablo Ferrazzi, a participant in the course and Industrial Manager discuss the challenges and opportunities of green industrial practices and the transformative role of UIA in the green transition.
Promoting Sustainable Production Processes
The adoption of quality standards as a common practice among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains in its early stages in the country. Companies, particularly SMEs, require comprehensive support to establish or adapt sustainable production processes, alongside a public-private ecosystem aligned with sustainability objectives.
To accompany SMEs in their green transition, the UIA’s “Ruta X Verde” programme trained 15 specialists to provide direct technical assistance to 15 companies across various sectors, including metallurgy, auto parts, food, construction, graphic arts, coatings, paints, plastics, and textiles.
The UIA’s “Ruta X Verde” programme benefited from EU support. In 2023, the UIA secured funding from the European Union’s AL INVEST Green Programme to develop a technical assistance strategy, which encompasses an analysis of the product’s life cycle within the company’s value chain, along with the integration of technology to enhance process traceability.
PAGE in Argentina
PAGE is a joint initiative of UNIDO, ILO, UNEP, UNDP and UNITAR that supports 22 countries in shaping inclusive and green economy policy and practice. Argentina joined in 2018.
Aligning with the goals of the country, PAGE work aims to support SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) in Argentina.
Source: PAGE