The manufacturing industry doesn’t exactly have a reputation for their sustainable efforts. Luckily, a modern push for environmentally friendly alternatives to wasteful or harmful practices has begun to change this. Keep reading to learn four ways that manufacturing is going green.
1. Ditching Old-Fashioned Factories
When you think of sustainability, the last thing you might think of is oversized, loud, dusty factories full of buzzing machines. Luckily, those old-fashioned factories are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
Many companies are now renovating old spaces or moving into modern facilities with an eye toward going green. New, streamlined machines that take up less space and operate on less electricity is reducing the carbon footprint of factories. These new applications also mean that less space is needed for the factory itself. A smaller factory means more efficiency, lowered heating and cooling costs, and fewer materials going into building the space right from the start. The benefits of these green energy moves are two-fold; they are better for the environment and better for the business’ bottom line.
2. Bio-Based Rubber for Automotive Applications
While green energy sources like windmills or hydro plants are increasingly being used around the world, we still rely heavily on fossil fuels. This is especially true in the manufacturing industry. One fossil fuel in particular that the industry depends on is petroleum. Petroleum is a key ingredient in creating thousands of essential rubber products. Unfortunately, petroleum is a rapidly depleting fossil fuel, and its use has devastating effects on the environment.
Luckily, experts in the automotive industry are searching for an alternative. They’ve begun to develop bio-based rubber to replace petroleum in the manufacturing of silicone o-rings and other automotive uses. This solution means a lower carbon footprint, more sustainable production and maximum potential for reducing greenhouse gases. And these benefits all come without compromising the integrity of the o-rings and other products.
3. Leaner Production Reduces Waste
There was a time when the manufacturing industry produced and produced without any sign of slowing down, even if demand began to ebb or low seasons meant fewer sales. That trend has been on the mend for the last couple of decades.
But lean production today is about more than only producing the amount of product that’s likely to sell. It also means hiring the right number of employees to get the job done, building or investing in only the machinery you need and shipping only what is required. At every step of the manufacturing process, this leads to less wasted product, time, resources and of course, money.
4. Recycling More Than Just Paper and Packaging
By now, we all know how important recycling is for everyone and every business. But in manufacturing, recycling efforts go far beyond sorting paper and cardboard boxes into the appropriate bins.
Coal ash produced during manufacturing can be used in the production of ceiling tiles and cement. Used concrete and asphalt can become structural fill or be repurposed when making pavement. Finding ways to recycle and reuse byproducts produced during manufacturing is essential for businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.
Manufacturing Goes Green
From recycling byproducts created during production to upgrading old and outdated factories, moving toward leaner production and searching for sustainable alternatives, manufacturing is going green.