Managing Sustainability in Plastics Processing: A Quick Start Guide
About
Written by world renowned expert in sustainable and energy management in plastics processing, Dr Robin Kent, this 136 page workbook is a companion to a previous publication, ‘Sustainability Management in Plastics Processing’, also by written by Robin Kent and published by the BPF.
The previous publication is the only guide to the subject written specifically for plastics processors and it contains a wealth information for processors who want to improve their sustainability and need the essential background for the subject. Despite this, there was felt to be a need to produce a ‘projects book’ where the essential projects for improving sustainability were clearly set out. The result is this Workbook which is designed to provide plastics processors with clearly defined projects that they can implement at their sites.
Who Is This For?
The Workbook is designed to provide the British plastics industry with a framework for action and a selection of projects for improving sustainability and moving towards net zero. The projects listed in this Workbook have already been successful in industry but companies and the exact details of their situation vary. Individual companies and sites must therefore validate individual project details for their own circumstances. All project details are provided for guidance only. The projects are designed to be applied in existing plastics processing sites with existing staff. This is a Workbook designed to help processors improve what they already do at relatively low cost.
|
Features
|
|
About the Author
 Dr Robin Kent Tangram Technologies |
Dr Kent has a B.Eng. (Hons.) in Materials Engineering from Monash University (Australia) and a Ph.D. in Polymer Physics from the University of Surrey (UK). He has been involved with polymer processing since 1971 and has worked as Technical Director for several major plastics processing companies in the UK and Europe. He established Tangram Technology in 1996 as consulting engineers for the plastics processing industry and has worked around the world in energy and sustainability management. |
Chapters
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
SECTION 2 SUSTAINABILITY BASICS
2.1 Management basics
2.2 Identifying sustainability actions
2.3 Managing sustainability
2.4 Sustainability projects
2.5 Avoid greenwashing
SECTION 3 MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
3.1 Are they worthwhile?
3.2 Environmental management systems (EMS)
3.3 Energy management systems (EnMS)
3.4 Health and safety management systems (OH&SMS)
3.5 Risk assessment
SECTION 4 DESIGN
4.1 Resource efficient design
4.2 Raw materials – minimise the inputs
4.3 Manufacture – target the efforts
4.4 Use – optimise the use
4.5 End-of-life – minimise the outputs
SECTION 5 RAW MATERIALS
5.1 Materials content and use
5.2 Mechanical recycling
5.3 Chemical recycling
5.4 Energy recovery
5.5 Bio-based materials (where it comes from)
5.6 Biodegradable materials (where it goes to)
SECTION 6 MANUFACTURING
6.1 Raw material losses
6.2 Quality management
6.3 Non-value activities
6.4 Sustainable procurement
6.5 Sustainable distribution
SECTION 7 ENERGY MANAGEMENT
7.1 Starting out
7.2 Benchmarking
7.3 Surveys, auditing and reporting
7.4 Injection moulding
7.5 Extrusion
7.6 Extrusion blow moulding
7.7 Motors
7.8 Compressed air
7.9 Cooling and chilled water
7.10 Drying
7.11 Buildings
7.12 On-site generation
SECTION 8 CARBON FOOTPRINTING
8.1 Getting ready
8.2 Scope 1
8.3 Scope 2
8.4 Scope 3
8.5 Update and manage
SECTION 9 WATER MANAGEMENT
9.1 Starting out
9.2 Minimise the demand
9.3 Optimise the supply
9.4 Reduce discharge
SECTION 10 WASTE MINIMISATION
10.1 The basics of waste minimisation
10.2 Process flow charts and waste tracking
10.3 Minimise packaging waste
10.4 Minimise oil and hydraulic waste
10.5 Minimise solvent waste
10.6 The site waste walk around
10.7 Managing waste minimisation
SECTION 11 USE AND END-OF-LIFE
11.1 The use and end-of-life timescales
11.2 Very short-life products (<1 day)
11.3 Short-life products (<2 years)
11.4 Medium-life products (2-15 years)
11.5 Long-life products (>15 years)
SECTION 12 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
12.1 The framework
12.2 Organisational governance
12.3 Human rights
12.4 Labour practices
12.5 The environment
12.6 Fair operating practices
12.7 Consumer issues
12.8 Community involvement and development
SECTION 13 REPORTING SUSTAINABILITY
13.1 The framework – principles and standards
13.2 The ‘Universal’ standards
13.3 Economic reporting standards (GRI 200 series)
13.4 Environmental reporting standards (GRI 300 series)
13.5 Social reporting standards (GRI 400 series)
13.6 The reporting process
APPENDIX 1: NET ZERO
A1.1 Achieve carbon neutrality
A1.2 Energy use and renewables
A1.3 Reduce absolute materials use
A1.4 Reduce materials types
A1.5 Use recycled materials
A1.6 Use bio-based materials
A1.7 Reduce gas use
A1.8 Reduce transport use
A1.9 Minimise waste
A1.10 Reduce supply chain emissions
A1.11 Planning for net zero
