Challenges and Opportunities of Green Manufacturing

Over 97% of climate studies show that the world is warming, largely due to industrial pollution. Over 1.2 trillion gallons of liquid industrial waste make their way into U.S. water every year. Reducing industrial waste needs to be a top priority for us if we are to save our planet.

The rise in green manufacturing is going to play a very important role in the future of our planet. Green manufacturing will have plenty of benefits and challenges in the years to come.

How Can Green Manufacturing Reduce Waste?

There are a number of ways that green manufacturing can minimize our carbon footprint and reduce air and water pollution. Here are some of the key benefits to keep in mind.

Using Energy from Renewable Resources

There are a number of sources of renewable energy. Wind, solar and geothermal energy are all going to play a very important role in the near future. The Union for Concerned Scientists states that using these resources can reduce by 81% or more. Since nearly a third of all carbon is produced by the energy sector and the manufacturing industry is one of the largest consumers of electricity, this can potentially reduce our total carbon footprint by at least 10% a year.

Seeking More Energy Efficient Solutions

Shifting towards using renewable energy isn’t the only way manufacturers can transition to operating green. They can also try to minimize their energy expenditures. Many new types of equipment can cut energy consumption by 70% or more. According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy, combining a flexible energy-efficient sheet metal forming tool, tool that integrates performance metrics and models and converting CO2 waste into more useful chemical intermediates can collectively reduce waste by over 85%.

Newer energy efficient solutions are going to play a key role in minimizing our carbon footprint and protecting the world from climate change in the near future. More energy efficient technology will be at least as important as using renewable energy.

This is one of the benefits of machinery transportation and installation with Bryn Thomas. They are highly committed to operating efficiently.

Pollution Cleanup

Manufacturers must take all reasonable steps to eliminate pollution that they have created. Green manufacturers can identify sources of pollution and take all reasonable steps to remove it from the environment. They must also coordinate with environmental regulators to come up with realistic cleanup approaches to minimize the hazards they have created.

Challenges Green Manufacturers Face

While green manufacturing can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, it can be difficult for companies to do it cost-effectively. Possibly their biggest challenge will be competing with companies overseas that don’t live up to the same standards. Many of these companies don’t think anything of the environment, which allows them to keep their operating costs low.

This is particularly problematic in China and other emerging economies in Asia. As these countries scale their manufacturing industries, they are going to create a larger carbon footprint.

Fortunately, many of these countries are beginning to recognize the concerns global warming is creating. China recently shut down 40% of its factories to minimize pollution. However, the remaining factories are unlikely to operate within acceptable U.S. emission guidelines. This means that one of two things will need to happen:

• Factories in the United States will need to make a business strong case to consumers that they should purchase their products rather than those imported from Asia.
• New trade deals will need to place high excises on products from these countries.

Green manufacturers should be able to thrive, but we will need to implement these practices quickly enough to prevent further damage to our environment.