CARBON REDUCTION
method of disposal, whether that means recycling at the customer’s site, recycling by Pineapple, or being disposed of as waste for energy reclaim.
Product design For Pineapple’s business, products are the largest contributor to our carbon footprint, accounting for 60% of the total. By measuring the CO2
associated
with each individual product, we were able to identify key areas for reduction and improvement. To understand the emissions, we needed to consider the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of each product. This type of analysis includes the amount of carbon emitted during the whole lifecycle of a product – from the extraction or production of the materials, to the energy used during the manufacturing process, and the transport and use of the product, right through to what happens at the end of the product’s life.
When Pineapple’s Ryno products reach the end of their life, they can be chipped into granules, and the recycled content used to manufacture new products which generate less carbon emissions.
report on their emissions and publish their CRP (complete Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions), and from 2030 they will need to demonstrate progress in their reduction plan. With the requirements made clear regarding achieving the NHS’s Net Zero target, and the role that suppliers need to play in reducing carbon emissions, we will now look at what this can mean in practice.
Measurement The first step toward carbon reduction is to accurately measure an organisation’s existing carbon footprint. As well as providing an initial baseline from which to set reduction targets and track progress, this also brings current emissions into sharper focus, and encourages organisations to consider what effect future decisions may have on their carbon footprint. Just as the NHS distinguishes
between emissions from the service’s daily operations and those associated with the supply of goods and services, individual organisations also need to look at the wider picture. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards) divides emissions into three scopes: 1 Direct emissions from business operations.
2 The emissions associated with the generation of energy used by the organisation.
3 Indirect emissions from both the supply chain and consumer waste streams. At Pineapple, this has meant
investigating the impact of company vehicles (Scope 1), electricity usage (Scope 2), and waste, water, air travel, transportation, and distribution, employee commuting, and products (Scope 3). After
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recording the data for each element (e.g. miles travelled in a company vehicle), conversion factors published by the Government were used to calculate the CO2
e generated by each activity.
Conducting a carbon analysis The next step was to conduct carbon analysis for all products, providing a better understanding of which products are associated with the largest carbon emissions. This information can be used to identify which products represent the biggest opportunity for carbon reduction. Efficiencies may be found through design refinements which use less material, using less energy-intensive manufacturing methods, or switching to more eco- friendly materials. Pineapple’s beanbag range is a compelling example of the effect materials can have on the carbon footprint of one product. In switching from traditional polystyrene filling to recycling the waste foam from the manufacture of our sofas, the CO2
emissions of each
beanbag were reduced by 80%. Pineapple’s Sustainability team has
also established clear afterlife plans for products once they reach the end of their useful life. These plans provide information about the materials and components used in our products, and the most sustainable
The ‘length of use’ period Within a product’s lifecycle, is important to consider the ‘length of use’ period. Comparing a single-use product with one which lasts for a decade can help to contextualise the emissions. While disposable, non-recyclable products may have a low carbon footprint to produce, the high annual volumes can generate significant emissions associated both with production and transport, as well as the disposal of waste. Longevity is of particular importance in mental healthcare environments, where furniture and fixtures can be subjected to harsher treatment than in domestic environments. Robust products which are engineered to withstand such environments are likely to require less frequent replacement over a five-year period than a budget product designed for domestic use. While the budget product may have had a lower price and smaller carbon footprint (due to less dense materials), frequent replacements will multiply both costs and emissions, and may exceed those of the more robust product.
Making products cost-effective to repair
Another way to extend the lifecycle of a product is to design it to be practical and cost-effective to repair. By doing so, the carbon emissions associated with the production of a replacement product, and the disposal of the damaged product, can be avoided.
In order to achieve the NHS’s target to become a Net Zero health service, sustainable procurement will need to play a significant role. Suppliers to the NHS will need to focus their attention on their own carbon emissions, and take steps to reduce them, or risk being unable to remain part of the supply chain
MAY 2023 | THE NETWORK
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