Greenpeace asks Indian company to stop producing bulbs

After Greenpeace activists blockaded the front and gate for an hour, an official response was from the General Manager of the Kashipur unit was sent across. The communication evaded Greenpeace's demand, and instead highlighted the mercury issue, specifying that Greenpeace failed to perceive the mercury threat from CFLs. The communication also mentioned that Surya was manufacturing CFLs in other plants, something Greenpeace is already aware of.

In the meantime, Greenpeace activists will continue to demostrate at the Surya factory, till a written communication about Surya's commitment is received, beating the heat and humidity.

The PR is below:

Greenpeace asks Surya Roshni to stop manufacturing incandescent light bulbs and shift production to CFLs Close to hundred Greenpeace activists blockade the light bulb factory in Kashipur, Uttaranchal

Aug 7th 2007, Kashipur/New Delhi: Four months after its launch, Greenpeace's Ban the Bulb campaign took major action today against Surya Roshni, a leading light bulb manufacturer. Close to hundred Greenpeace activists from around the country prevented the movement of incandescent bulbs out of the factory by creating a human blockade.

Greenpeace demands that Surya, Philips and Bajaj, the three largest bulb manufacturers in India provide definite timelines to phase out the production of energy-inefficient light bulb in India and simultaneously increase the production of efficient compact fluroscent lamps. Greenpeace had earlier published a "Guide to Climate Friendly Lighting in India" which ranked Surya as one of the leading Climate Criminals since the 974 lakhs light bulbs Surya produced annually are responsible for over thirty thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per day.

K Srinivas, Climate and Energy Expert, Greenpeace said "We are facing a planetary emergency. With eight years to take action on climate change, it is criminal to be producing incandescent light bulbs which waste energy and exacerbate global warming. India is already reeling under severe impacts of global warming. As a first step to secure the future of our society and economy, it is imperative for light bulb manufacturers to shift production in factories such as these completely to CFLs on a war footing"

He added "It is highly ironical that though the Managing Director of Surya Roshni Limited was awarded the Environmentalist of the year award in 1998 and the company projects itself as a responsible corporate with a sustainable environmental policy, it is continuing to produce one of the largest number of climate hazardous light bulbs in India. The activists will continue their blockade and prevent the movement of light bulbs out of the factory till Surya provides a time-bound commitment for shifting production from incandescent light bulb to Compact Fluroscent Lamps"

Commenting on the proposed move by the Government of India aimed at reducing the price of CFLs using clean development mechanism funds, Soumyabrata Rahut, Energy Expert, Greenpeace commented "While price reduction is necessary, market forces alone will not elimininate the energy guzzling bulbs soon enough to be effective in combating climate change. We therefore call upon the Government of India to simultaneously enact legislation to ban the bulb. The Government needs to find the will to take this relatively simple step immediately as there is much to be done in the battle against climate change afterwards."