VIENNA, 1 September 2009 - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management announced today a new Global Chemical Leasing Award.

The award is the first of its kind and aspires to contribute to greening of industries, supporting sound management of chemicals and inspiring companies around the world to engage in chemical leasing practices.

Chemical Leasing is an innovative service-based business model that promotes sustainable management of chemicals where the economic benefits do not result from the quantity of chemicals sold, but from the services rendered by the chemicals. The basis of payment could, for example, be the amount of pieces cleaned, or the amount of area painted.

”Chemical Leasing provides practical solutions for industry to become more efficient and green. At the same time it reduces the unnecessary consumption of hazardous chemicals and protects human health and the environment. This represents an integrated preventive environmental strategy and a clear win-win situation for industry and the environment,” said Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director-General.

The Global Chemical Leasing Award comprises four categories: Case studies (companies), Consulting services, Scientific publications and Public relations (reports, media, brochures, homepage). The first place winner in each category will receive USD 5,000.

“Chemical Leasing today is the "high end" business model within Chemicals' Management. As many projects within the framework of our co-operation with UNIDO have shown, it is turning resource efficiency and sustainable materials' management into an economically profitable concept. This award will allow presenting best practice examples applying Chemical Leasing from all over the world. We - UNIDO and the Austrian Ministry of Life - are looking forward to fascinating cases describing varieties of a fascinating idea" said Niki Berlakovich, Austria's Minister for the Environment”.

Since chemical products provide a broad variety of services (such as cleaning, coating, colouring, degreasing) the chemical leasing model is applicable in a multitude of industry sectors in large companies, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises.

During the last years, Chemical Leasing business models have been developed and successfully applied in Austria. The results showed that the implementation of chemical leasing has high potentials to enhance the efficient management of chemicals and significantly reduce harmful emissions.

In 2005, to demonstrate the applicability of these models in developing countries and countries with economies in transition, the UNIDO Cleaner Production Programme, supported by the Austrian government, launched its first chemical leasing initiatives in Egypt, Mexico, and Russia. In 2008, additional Chemical Leasing projects started in Colombia, Morocco, Serbia and Sri Lanka.

The deadline for applications is 31 December 2009. Organizations, companies and individuals worldwide are encouraged to apply.

More information, please visit www.chemicalleasing.com