The Impact of Industrial Clusters in Greening Manufacturing Industry Practices: The Case of the Old Ardbennie Industrial Cluster in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Industrial clustering can be used to improve the impact of green manufacturing practices in industry by enabling reduced energy and water consumption levels, solid waste and wastewater minimisation strategies and enabling increased participation in corporate social responsibility activities. This chapter assesses the performance of the Old Ardbennie Industrial cluster in Harare, Zimbabwe. Levels of water and energy savings, solid waste minimisation, wastewater reduction and corporate social responsibility achievements by members of the cluster are determined through both questionnaire surveys and interviews, in addition to monitored data. An inference was also carried out using cross-tabulations to determine whether there is relationship between participating in cluster activities and achievement of targets. The results show that the cluster had 15.76% savings in water consumption. However, effluent management by cluster members was still poor with most companies using the municipality pipes for untreated effluent disposal. Potential for trading in waste was identified. Reduction in solid waste was 2.71% and no effective reduction in energy consumption was observed. In general, cross-tabulation results showed that a positive relationship existed between participation in cluster activities and achievement of green manufacturing.