Eco-minded manufacturers who worry that their processes may be emitting hazardous pollutants into the air, and thereby negatively impacting the environment, will be happy to know that there are steps they can take to reduce the carbon footprint they are leaving behind.
Following are some ways to make a manufacturing facility greener.
And the good news is that all of this can be accomplished without producing a detrimental effect on the manufacturer's bottom line.
Following are some ways to make a manufacturing facility greener.
And the good news is that all of this can be accomplished without producing a detrimental effect on the manufacturer's bottom line.
- Cleaner Air Emissions - The goal of any manufacturing process is to keep to a minimum, or better, eliminate hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines HAPs as "those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects.
" The EPA provides as examples of toxic air pollutants: 1) benzene, which is found in gasoline; 2) perchloroethylene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and 3) methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries.
Other listed air toxics include dioxin, asbestos, toluene, and metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead compounds. - Awareness of a Healthy Working Environment - Going hand in hand with an elimination of HAPs is reducing the possible chemicals that employees may be exposed to.
The cleaner, healthier environment that results from such efforts has a positive impact on everyone involved in the manufacturing process...
extending all the way down to the end customer. - Improved Product Quality and Performance - Taking a good look at the products your firm manufactures can provide keen insight into how to further reduce or even eliminate the solvents being used in their production.
During this investigation, an emphasis should be placed on what features of the product(s) are most valued by your customers.
As a result of this examination, changes in production can be implemented in such a way that they benefit your firm, your customers and the environment (through the reduction of OC emissions) alike. - Reduction in Non-Value Added Costs - In the interest of full disclosure, meeting the requirements of air emissions permitting is going to require some upfront work.
To minimize the disruption in your manufacturing cycle, you should take a good look at your current business processes.
Keeping daily records, paying fees, generating monthly and annual reports, tapping into administration and consultant resources-all of these activities have costs associated with them but chances are you never even thought of them as costly.
What's worse, performing them doesn't add any value to your business.
If you can find ways to mitigate such expenses, you'll not only be positively impacting your manufacturing bottom line, but you'll also be reducing your carbon footprint in the process.
That's because many of these costs entail environmental elements as a natural part of conducting them. - Safety Diligence - Getting greener won't be easy.
Your chemical clean-up efforts will be met with scrutiny by various occupational and environmental agencies.
But the rewards of persevering through all the red tape is worth it.
At the end of the day, you'll likely deem it a positive experience for your manufacturing firm as well as for your customers and neighbors.