Green forum sends message: trade show calls for investment in enviro-technologies, better industrial practices.

Advertising the alarming statistic that just two out of every 10 companies comply fully with Mexico's environmental law, an international environment and energy forum called "Enviro-Pro TECOMEX 2004" attracted an unusual batch of industrialists and government officials in Mexico City's World Trade Center.

With 130 Mexican and foreign companies displaying their environmental technology and other contributions to the sector. Enviro-Pro TECOMEX was primarily a three-day trade show, emphasizing the need for investment in environmental technologies and better industrial practices.

However, the uncompromising language struck an unusual note for a trade show, which most of us associate with companies seeking business opportunities and an audience to whom they can sell their products. Enviro-Pro did not fail on the above accounts, but it offered a good deal more.

Firstly, the Sept. 8-10 event also encompassed the 12th International Environment Congress of the National Council of Ecologist Industrialists here (Conieco). In the same bulletin promoting the expo, Conieco--a non-profit organization with 1,100 members (www.conieco.com.mx)--was on record saying that of the 350,000 companies operating in Mexico, 320,000 fail to comply with their responsibilities in caring for the environment, due to lack of training and financial resources.

The congress' objective was congruent with the trade show--to bring to participants' attention the latest technologies in the treatment of water, air and industrial waste, including plastics, recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate, used to make plastic bottles for soft drinks) and paper, as well as the handling of hazardous waste. But it also sought to discuss better proposals and practices, with a focus on analysis, training, discussions and solutions necessary to Mexico's sustainable industrial development.

Secondly, organizers struck, in the jargon of the day, "a strategic alliance" with the National Commission for Energy Savings (Conae) to hold the 10th seminar on "Energy Savings, Co-Generation and Renewable Energy." Conae is an autonomous consulting body related to the Energy Secretariat, and the seminar consisted of papers on the future of renewable energy in Mexico, from financing to the use of bio-gas from landfills for electricity production.

Participants included the Energy Secretariat, the Energy Regulatory Commission, Pemex, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), the Interamerican Development Bank and important industry chambers. This part of the event--a "trilateral" energy sector business and conference forum with the United States and Canada--was called "T & D POWER MEX 2004" (www.powermex.com.mx and www.conae.gob.mx).

Lastly, direct government participation was a highlight this year, with support from the Environment Secretariat (Semarnat, www.semarnat.gob.mx) and the Federal Bureau for Environmental Protection (Profepa). Semarnat's Crusade for a Clean Mexico outlined some potential financial assistance for environmental problems such as waste disposal, and gave advice on how municipal government and service providers could work together.

While the hodgepodge of councils, commissions, government agencies and other associations could sound confusing to those new in the field, it is the unavoidable result of trying to create a genuine forum. It appears that industrial necessity, health protection and law are gradually forcing disparate or conflicting elements to learn and speak a common language.

HANDLING WASTE, TREATING WATER

At first glance, Enviro-Pro TECOMEX 2004 looked, smelled and felt like a trade show, with 4,000 square meters of industrial carpeting, men strolling about in dull suits and a few scantily clad models with bored polite smiles. Yet the important role of the public sector and recent changes in policy and legislation gave the event a sense of urgency.

This was reinforced by the dense agenda of speeches, but also was detectable in the quality of information on ofter from many exhibitors, as well as their keen awareness of growing competition.

The main themes visible from display booths were waste handling and water treatment, following the Fox administration's legal initiatives with the General Law for the Prevention and Integrated Management of Waste that recently went into effect, and a decree to reform the National Water Law.

One booth that stood out was Ecoltec. It displayed a Profepa "Specialized Services" certification.

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Working since 1994 in waste management, the firm now offers analysis, collection, transportation and final disposal of waste through "Co-processing." This, company representative Carlos Juarez explained, is using waste as an alternative fuel, by--in this case--putting waste products (radioactive and biologically infectious categories are not permitted) in cement ovens.

"That way you don't use so many nonrenewable natural fuels," Juarez told BUSINESS MEXICO, explaining that the company belongs to Holcim/Apasco.

EDUCATING WASTE GENERATORS

Ecoltec--which has a "Clean Industry" certification (granted every two years) and has applied for the international standard ISO 14001--now has six plants in Mexico, with an annual capacity of 600,000 tons.

Ecoltec's news at the expo was indicative of trends. The new waste law emphasizes "integrated management." meaning all aspects of dealing with waste. Specifically, it requires all generators of waste to know what kind of waste they produce and to be aware of measures either to avoid generating or to recycle this waste.

Industrial and municipal waste generators must be informed of how to handle the waste in a safe and environmentally adequate way, including transportation.

The emphasis at the Conieco stand was in sync with this second trend, of access to information within this developing sector.

The council is developing a directory that lists all companies offering environmental equipment and services. Registration and access to the directory are free and there will also be a section to promote companies certified as clean industries.

Another emerging focus--that of obtaining reliable, legally sound, environmental statistics--came out of the registry's inclusion of laboratories approved by the Entidad Mexicana de Acreditacion (EMA) to conduct analysis (of water, waste, etc). There are only about 80 in total, Conieco representatives said. They hoped the directory would be ready some time in October.

Selene Maru, project engineer with Intema, a large, Puebla-based water treatment company that has been operating for 16 years, said she has seen increased demand for Intema's services--wastewater treatment and re-use, analysis by accredited labs, and the manufacture of treatment equipment.

"But you can also see increased competition. Companies here now have ISO 14000 and are more specialized," Maru said.

Her perception was not so much that water standards had changed, but that the government now insists on compliance.

FORGING A COMMON LANGUAGE

Of the 130 companies participating in the expo, 69 were foreign, with prominent trade pavilions from Germany, the United States, Canada and Benelux.

Among the 20 U.S. companies represented were ACS MedioAmbiente, Chief Industries, Severn Trent Services and Goodwater Warehouse, Inc. (all specializing in integrated water treatment systems and industrial wastewater). Columbian Tectank (waste storage) and Bacharach of Mexico offer portable analyzers for combustion and environmental emissions.

The U.S. Embassy Commercial Service provided a breakfast briefing for the companies with legal counseling on Mexican environmental legislation and enforcement after Nafta, and government briefing materials on Semarnat's objectives and priorities.

Probably the most important forum was that presented by development bank Banobras and Semarnat's undersecretary for environmental planning and policy on a new agreement that aims to provide Mexico's municipal mayors with orientation and financial resources for improved waste management.

A coherent vision of environmental protection going hand in hand with industrial development is inevitably hard to achieve, but Enviro-Pro TECOMEX 2004 took important steps toward forging a common language.

The view from the ground was that change is coming apace. The challenge is to adapt to this change and accept it as both opportunity and responsibility.

By Dr. Barbara Kastelein

Dr. Barbara Kastelein writes about environmental legislation in Mexico for the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA), based in Washington D.C.