SPOTLIGHT Sustainability
[Image: Appolinary Kalashnikova for Unsplash]
Choose your ways to lead in sustainable manufacturing
T
he manufacturing industry accounts for an enormous amount of carbon emissions. According to the Offi ce for National Statistics, manufacturing has been the fourth highest industry contributing to greenhouse gas emissions between 1990 and 2020. The nation has seen a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions since 1990; however, despite the government’s Ten Point Plan, there is still a long way to go, if the UK is to achieve net zero by 2050. Thankfully, companies in the manufacturing industry are committed to combatting the climate crisis, as the following examples show:
Carbon-neutral tea in Yorkshire Taylor’s of Harrogate is a family-owned business based in Yorkshire. The company makes a wide range of teas and coff ees, of which most notable is its Yorkshire Tea, voted the best cuppa by Brits in 2021. As a company, Taylor’s prides itself on prioritising people and the planet, so it combats the climate crisis in many ways. One is its aim to make all of its plastic packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Also, since 2015, Taylor’s began
reducing its carbon emissions and is now completely carbon neutral. To achieve this, it measured the average volume of carbon dioxide it emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere at every stage of its production line – a technique known as “carbon off setting”. Companies that use this method make up for their day- to-day greenhouse gas emissions by contributing to off setting projects, such
12 March 2022 | Automation
as forest conservation and using energy from renewable sources. In collaboration with the Kenya Tea Development Agency, Taylor’s has encouraged over 7000 farmers to plant almost two million trees; as we all know, trees absorb carbon dioxide and balance greenhouse gas emissions.
Wind turbine energy in Newcastle Siemens is a large conglomerate, manufacturing many products and systems, worldwide. In its facility in Newcastle, the company recycles 92% of its materials and has a 0% landfi ll waste capacity. It has also spearheaded multiple national projects, including the Keele University Smart Energy Network Demonstrator – the largest grid in the whole of Europe, which aff ects 350 buildings on campus and reduces 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.
Siemens is also committed to expanding its use of renewable energy. It created a wind turbine blade factory in Hull, UK’s largest off shore wind manufacturing facility. The UK government is said to be investing £160m into the blade factory, which will help double the factory’s size and create some 1200 jobs. The company’s current project, the 1.4GW Hornsea Two, powers the equivalent of 1.3 million homes.
Vegetarian all the way Stokesley in Yorkshire based Quorn manufactures vegan and vegetarian meals. This company is fully committed to tackling carbon emissions, and even its products are a proof – switching to Quorn mince in just one meal will save
the same amount of greenhouse gases as it takes to charge a mobile phone for three years. Its pieces produce a tiny 0.22kg of carbon dioxide per serving, whereas a UK chicken produces 5kg of carbon dioxide per serving.
The food manufacturing industry is
responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock farming alone accounts for 14.5% of all emissions. In an eff ort to reduce its carbon footprint, Quorn calculates its carbon emissions, which includes its factories and packaging and the transport it uses. Moreover, Quorn has committed
to reducing plastic waste, and in 2019 it removed all black plastic from its packaging. Its novel PET trays are made of 80% recycled material. However, since plastic packaging
protects the hygiene and safety of food products, it can’t always be avoided, so Quorn has collaborated with RECOUP and WRAP UK Plastic Pack to minimise its impact on the environment.
A long way to go Now, corporations are responding to the climate crisis more than ever, even though there is a long way to go before the UK can achieve carbon neutrality. Whether the nation achieves net zero by 2050 is down to the government’s cooperation with UK companies. How will your business continue to lead the way in sustainable manufacturing?
CONTACT:
FloGas
www.flogas.co.uk/business
automationmagazine.co.uk
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