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Green Purchasing Network of India (GPNI) hosted by Environmental Management Centre, Mumbai organized an Interactive Workshop in partnership with International Green Purchasing Network (IGPN), Tokyo on

“Stimulating Green Purchasing in India”.

This Interactive Workshop was on February 11, 2011 at the Mirza Ghalib Hall, Scope Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi.

Agenda of the Workshop	Background of the Workshop

Internationally, the importance attached to Green Purchasing is evident from the various country specific legislations and guidelines emerging on Green Purchasing.

In India too we realize there is an increasing interest in Green Products amongst consumers. Even the small and medium industries catering to the global businesses need to produce green as a response to consumer demands. "Stimulating Green Purchasing in India" is aimed at deliberating on the preparedness and the tools for Indian business available to target green products.

Audience at the Workshop	Dr.Modak presenting Eco-Bazaar & GELP
'Stimulating Green Purchasing'	Eminent Speakers at the Workshop

Dr. Prasad Modak, Chairperson, GPNI initiated the workshop with a welcome note and Mr. Hiromi Mori, Secretary General, IGPN explained the workshop background in brief. This was followed by presidential address from Dr. Siddharth Kaul, Advisor, MoEF and keynote address by Prof. S P Gautam, Chairperson, Central Pollution Control Board. Eco-bazaar (www.eco-bazaar.net), the web-based portal was inaugurated by Prof. S P Gautam on this occasion. Eco-bazaar aims to provide the manufacturers and traders of eco-friendly products a platform to publicize their products, while giving the consumers the access to these products.

Various case studies related to GPP from Asian multinational companies helped the participants to understand global trends and perspectives in Asia. These included representatives of Canon India, NEC Corporation and Pripress Center Ltd. Shantanu Roy, Secretary General, GPNI delivered presentation on  ‘Review of Policies and Preparedness on GPP in India’. These case studies and presentation were followed by discussion among participants on technical-governance aspects as well as the need for Government support to promote GPP in public-private sectors.

The workshop concluded with presentations on Eco-bazaar and Global Enviro Legal (GELP)portals by Dr. Prasad Modak. He discussed role of such tools in integrating GPP in public-private organizational systems and their user-friendly features. The participants appreciated GPNI’s initiatives and expressed continued support for its GPP activities in India.

While GELP is under development, do visit Eco-bazaar at www.eco-bazaar.net and register to participate in GPNI initiatives.