The Concerns of Gas Emissions - Case Study Example

Sustainable development Sustainable development Introduction Today, one of the most important concerns is the green house gas emissions. Manufacturing industries are playing an important role in maximizing the green house gas emissions. Unsustainable behaviour, as adopted by nearly all manufacturing industries not only degraded the environment and ecology but also reduced the economic sustainability. If we consider the economic cost of the conventional methods adopted by most of the manufacturing industries, we would realize that products are much costly and manufacturers are selling then at very low price but the real price is taken from the environment that takes the burden of manufacturing. Degrading environment speaks for itself and describes the whole story of manufacturing industries. The widening demand of the industries products are even promoting the manufacturers to utilize the unsustainable manners to produce products that are produced with no sense of environment, waste management, carbon footprints, etc but only one thing is kept in mind of manufacturer “ we are making profit”. In facts, we are not making any profit we are loosing profit. Sustainable development binds the knots of manufacturing with the environment. Sustainable development views manufacturing in a sustainable manner. Sustainable development refers to the progress under the shade of sustainable methods that directly or indirectly reduce the flow of green house gas emissions into the environment. Today, green house emission or carbon emission is the concern that affects all sectors. Industrialists, economists, politicians and financial advisors show great concern about the emission of the harmful pollutants into the environment. Renewable technologies that are the important pillar of sustainable development are making their place among conventional methods. Renewable resources are not only risk free but also limit the flow of the carbon emissions into the environment. Moreover, renewable resources are present all over the planet and can be attained with little effort. Sustainable development idealistically identifies the how the conventional methods either utilized industrially or domestically can be made better, so that the carbon footprints of the conventional methods limit to an acceptable range. On the other hand, sustainable development also promotes are vision of carbon free world. Sustainable development can be enhanced by enhancing the conversation of energy, promotion low carbon and renewable energy resources and minimizing wastes. On the other hand, the use of materials that require less energy and effort during manufacturing also help in promoting the sustainable development. Conservation of Energy Conversation of energy is the best method to achieve sustainability. Less usage of energy directly influences the individual carbon footprints and thus important for the sustainable development. Electrical appliances manufacturing industries are determined to introduce energy efficient appliances. Like, the earlier used incandescent bulbs are far less energy efficient as compared to the fluorescent bulbs. Florescent light bulbs consume 80% less energy as compared to that of the incandescent light bulbs for the similar lumens. In the similar manner, LED televisions and monitors are far more energy efficient as compared to the CRT based TVs and monitors. In this manner, a conversation of energy not only helps us in reducing the amount of energy bills but also reduces the carbon footprints. More research is focused to develop newer products are have even higher energy efficiency. Energy efficient appliances are the response for the sustainable development (Jayal et al., 2010). Minimizing waste Minimizing the waste is the key concept for the sustainable development. In combined cycle thermal power plants the waste heat is further used to increase the temperature of inlet water that not only conserves the energy but also minimizes the waste emitted from the power generation unit. In the similar manner, recycling also minimizes the waste and increase the productivity through higher energy efficiency and high availability of better raw material. In general, the recycling uses 60% less energy as compared to that required in producing the newer product from raw material. In this manner, minimizing the waste and recycling is the important factor of the sustainable development (Jayal et al., 2010). Promoting renewable technologies Renewable technologies or renewable energy resources are sustainable resources. Solar energy, wind energy, hydrodynamic energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy are all renewable energy resources. Renewable energy resources either have zero carbon emissions or low carbon emissions. Solar energy is the energy generated through harnessing solar thermal or light energy. Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells are used to convert solar energy into usage electrical energy. Solar PV panels generate DC electrical current that can be converted to alternating current or used directly in DC appliances (Jayal et al., 2010). Wind generators convert wind energy to electrical energy. Large-scale wind turbines are used to generate massive units of energy. Hydrodynamic energy used the potential and kinetic energy of water to generate energy. Dams are built over rivers to store large quantities of water that is used through a channel to move the turbine and that generates the electrical energy. In the similar manner, tidal generators also used hydrodynamic energy during low and high tide to generate the electrical energy. Biomass energy is the energy trapped in the biomass. Biomass energy can be extracted by direct burning the biomass or utilizing the biogas by further processing the biomass. Biogas has a rich ratio of methane that burns very well and it is major constituent of the natural gas. After filtration and processing, biogas can have the similar consistency as that of the natural gas. Biogas can easily replace the natural gas for energy generation. Processing biomass also reduces the waste and enhances energy efficacy. Cattle farms are a big source of biomass in shape of animal faeces that can be used as the manure for the biogas generation. Geothermal energy can be harnessed with the help of geothermal grounds. Geothermal grounds are present at many places round the globe. In Iceland, geothermal grounds provide usable energy that is also used to grow tropical crops in the region. Geothermal grounds provide thermal energy that is used to convert water into steam that is further used to run the turbine of the generator. On the other hand, geothermal energy can also be used to maintain the temperature as the temperature below the surface remains constant due to insulation. Heat transfer pumps can easily transfer the thermal difference and can maintain a healthy temperature with little use of energy. Sustainable manufacturing As discussed above sustainable manufacturing is the manufacturing of a product that poses least environmental issue, least carbon emissions, least production of wastes, utilize natural resources smartly and conserve as much energy as possible, available to the society at an affordable rate and economically benefit both the user and the manufacturer (Jayal et al., 2010). In this manner, we can simplify that sustainable manufacturing refer to progress in manufacturing by considering that: Manufacturing industry should not promote climate change instead adopt the ways to reduce carbon footprints. Manufacture products that remain sustainable and come from sustainable resources. Manufacturing industries should not harm the fresh water resources and should process untreated water and reuse it to reduce the burden of manufacturing on fresh water resources. Manufacturing industry should use natural resources like natural light, natural ventilation to conserve energy. Manufacturing industry should produce products for the communities to generate a sustainable business. The products should have an economic value and should remain economically sound. Workers health and safety should be preferred over the manufacturing products. Manufacturers should try to reduce the dust and other harmful particulate levels. The working environment should remain free from any type of chemical contamination, as chemical contamination would affect the worker’s health. Economic cost involves the labour cost, energy cost and maintenance cost. Manufactures are suggested to reduce the energy costs and maintenance costs to attain economic cost efficiency. Manufactures can enhance the paying scale of the scale of the workers by reducing the energy and maintenance costs. Manufactures should manage the waste, as waste management is the important aspect of the sustainable manufacturing (Jayal et al., 2010). Energy Usage and facts: In USA, a research conducted by Energy Information Administration (EIA) evaluated the energy consumption over a period of five years and found that US industries consumed over one third of the energy that is imported or generated in the USA. The imported energy is in the form of coal, oil and gas. Residents and vehicular use consumed the rest of the energy. “…the top five energy-intensive manufacturing industries—bulk chemicals, refining, paper, steel, and food accounted for 61% of industrial energy consumption and 25% of total value of shipments in 2009”. On the other hand, the report suggested that the major units of energy are consumed not during the manufacturing of the products but during the use of products. Hence, there is wide gap of information that is increasing the energy use. The energy balance can be achieved by improving the social and environmental impacts of energy use during manufacturing (Ing & M. Cotterell, 1997). Industrial manufacturing rather being playing against the environment should work for the environment to develop an eco friendly product. The suggesting is not against technology or the industrial manufacturing but it is favouring the manufacturers to improve the quality of environment and fresh water resources and in return maximise the productivity but motivating the workers and buyers to work for the environment. One manufacturer can make a difference by adopting eco friendly techniques like recycling, energy conversation, limiting wastes, reusability of the wastes, and enhancing energy efficiency by adopting renewable technologies (English, Castellucci and Mynors, 2006). Eco- Efficiency of the Product Eco-efficiency of the products corresponds to the eco-friendly aspects of the product. Like how much energy is conserved during the production of the production, what are the impacts of the manufacturing process on the manufacturing of the products and how it interacts with the social environment? Eco-efficiency is defined as “the efficiency with which ecological resources are used to meet human needs”. The definition can be mathematically expressed as: It is quite clear from the above equation that in order to achieve higher eco-efficiency, the environmental impact of the product should have a lower value. The lower the environmental affects, the higher will be the eco-efficiency of the product. In other manner, it is clear that the economic value is the product of eco-efficiency of the product and the environmental impact of the products, while eco- efficiency and environmental impact are inversely proportional (English, Castellucci and Mynors, 2006). Designing of sustainable products Sustainable products, in general as discussed above consume lower energy produce lower waste and the product is eco-friendly. Like cold rolling, process used to shape the steel into a usable product, is more efficient as compared to that of he hot rolling or iron casting processes. In this process, not more than 5% of the steel goes to waste. Moreover, 100% of the waste is recycled. However, the process can still be inefficient. The designing of the rollers, the complementary parts and the excessive parts that can be reduced during the manufacturing of the cold rolling machine can generate an even more economically as well as environmentally sustainable product (English, Castellucci and Mynors, 2006). Over engineering of manufacturing machines Manufacturing machines, like the cold rolling machine, can still produce an unsustainable product or less sustainable product if the machine is over engineered. If the manufacturing machine has more parts than required, the wear and tear will affect more parts and the machine will require more parts when it is maintained. To make it more sustainable, the number of machine parts should remain as less as possible. In this manner, the machine will require less parts and more sustainability can be achieved. In the similar manner, the material used for tools also influences the inefficiency of the machine and the product. Like if a toll bears heavy load, it is better to manufacture it with hard and rigid material that can bear load and remain working for several years. Material engineers always try to cut the cost by using materials that are durable and still have low cost and lower impact on ecology (English, Castellucci and Mynors, 2006). In efficient designing of the tools also contributes in making the product unsustainable. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of the product is the key aspect to design an environmentally sustainable product. “LCA is a technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a product, process, or service, by: Compiling an inventory of relevant energy and material inputs and environmental releases Evaluating the potential environmental impacts associated with identified inputs and releases Interpreting the results to help you make a more informed decision (Epa.gov, 2015)”. The implementation of the LCA policy contributes in making the product environmentally friendly products. The policy has four basic stages to conclude the sustainability of the product. The four basic stages are: Analysis of inventory Assessment of impact on environment Goal and vision of the company Interpretation of goals Manufacturing companies must ensure to implement the LCA policies to ensure the product sustainability and ensure that the product design is involves the LCA policy. LCA policy is required to make the product design more environmentally sustainable. The first stage of the policy is to have a definite goal of the manufacturing company. The product of the company should be environmentally friendly and should have no negative impacts on the environment. The goal of the company should have a definition regarding the environmental aspect. The other stage contributes, what manufacturing companies can do to make the product an eco-product. Manufacturing process and design contributes much in making the product eco-friendly. Like if the product consumes more energy than required and produces more waste that is not recycled, the product is unsustainable, even if, the product has no negative impacts on the environment. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the set of policies that makes the companies bound in certain limits to be more responsible for the environment and the society. CSR allows the manufacturers to attain long-term profits by enhancing the social behaviour and making the products that are manufactured for the society for the good of the environment that sustains our living. CSR enhances the value of the organization in terms of its social responsible behaviour and more people feel them connected with the organisation that promotes the CSR. Common actions that can be taken to ensure CSR are eco-friendly productivity by managing waste and recycling it, enhancing energy efficiency and working for the society to ensure that the manufacturing company remain popular within the society. Microsoft is no doubt is the world biggest company with one of the highest assets in the world. The company is also known of its best CSR policies as the company adopts the polices that are good for the environment as well as good for the society. Microsoft contributes in funding for the charity as well as allocates a fund for CSR. The amount of the fund that is allocated for the CSR is increasing on yearly basis that depicts that the company regards the CSR. The company arranges seminars to interact with the societal members and welcome the suggestion from the members to help company become more responsible towards the society (Smith, 2015). BMW is also an international company that promotes the CSR. The company is one of the biggest vehicle manufacturing companies that focus on the CSR policies. BMW not only expresses deep regard for the environment but also for the society. BMW focuses on the social behaviour of the workers and the society and focus to maintain the social behaviour by promoting the CSR. Manufacturing of the vehicles produces heavy wastes but BMW uses different mechanism to reduce the waste. All the waste is properly recycled. Some manufacturing units have natural air conditioning systems by utilizing transpiration of the plant. In this manner, the manufacturing utilizes less energy as compared other vehicle manufacturing industries and maintain a healthy environment for the workers and for the society. The gas for the vehicle manufacturing comes as the landfill gas that BMW extracts from the wastes from the society. In this way, BMW not only reduces its own waste but also reduces waste from society (Smith, 2015). The bribery act of 2010 applies to all the citizens of UK. The law also applies to the companies or commercial organizations that are working in UK. In UK, giving Bribe as well as taking the bribe from anyone is a crime and the offender may attain a plenty of 10 years imprisonment as well as unlimited amount of fine. The law also applies to the organization that gives bribes or tries to promote it by taking bribe from anyone. If any worker of the organization gives bribes to a person on behalf of organization, UK bribery law consider it an offence by the organization and make the company to undergo serious allegation of the bribery. If the allegations are proved, the company will have to suffer as all the businesses of the company will be closed and law will impose a ban on the company to work in UK and an unlimited fine will be imposed on the company. The law remains similar for the foreign company working in UK (Loc.gov, 2015). However, companies given waiver to disclose the true nature of events and disclose. The law promotes that if the UK firm or a foreign firm working in UK discloses the facts about the bribery and nominate the person involved in the crimes the company may attain some relaxations. On the other hand, companies are promoted to develop a bribery free environment to reduce the impact of being caught against the offences of bribery. Sustainable development focuses on the manufacturing of products that consume less energy, produce fewer wastes and have higher eco-efficiency. The eco-efficiency of the product determines that product doe not harms the environment in any manner. Moreover, the sustainable development also focuses to reduce the economic cost of the product not only for the manufacturers but also for the consumers. References A.D. Jayal, F. Badurdeen, O.W. Dillon Jr., I.S. Jawahir (2010), “Sustainable manufacturing: Modelling and optimization challenges at the product, process and system levels.” CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology,2 ( 2010) pp144-152 M.English, M. Castellucci, D.J. Mynors (2006), “Eco-efficiency of the cold roll formed product supply chain”, Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 177 (2006) ,pp 626-629 Prof. Dr.-Ing. G. Bymel, M. Cotterell (1997) , “Environmentally Clean Machining: A Strategic Approach”, Proceeding of Fourteen Conference of the Irish Manufacturing Committee 1997. Epa.gov, (2015). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Sustainable Technology Research: US EPA. [online] Available at: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/lca/lca.html [Accessed 12 Jan. 2015]. Loc.gov, (2015). The United Kingdom Bribery Act 2010 | Law Library of Congress. [online] Available at: http://www.loc.gov/law/help/uk-bribery-act.php [Accessed 12 Jan. 2015]. Smith, J. (2015). The 10 Companies With the Best CSR Reputations - In Photos: The 10 Companies With the Best CSR Reputations. [online] Forbes. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45mmlm/the-10-companies-with-the-best-csr-reputations/ [Accessed 12 Jan. 2015]. Read More