E.

MCCLARENCE 2010-09-15

Green Technology : The Rules

and Regulations of Environment
& Energy Management
In the first of our series on environmental issues, Elinor
McClarence gives the Abrasive Hub’s guide to going green.
 
 
 
 
 
The need to be Green is  
becoming an increasing  
requirement for all  
businesses internationally,  
and the manufacturing  
industry is certainly no  
exception. But with plenty of  
regulating bodies,  
governmental and non-  
governmental, and different  
types of accreditation, what  
do businesses need to do to  
meet regulation  
requirements without wasting  
precious energy in doing so?  
W hich body to trust?
 
 
The International Organisation for  
Standardisation (ISO) is the  
world’s largest and most respected  
developer of standard regulations
for businesses. It is recognized in  
163 countries, incorporating Africa,  
Europe, South America and Asia.  
It is a non-governmental  
organisation, but is unique in that
its members come from private
 
and public sectors so that a good  
consensus between businesses  
can be made for environmental  
regulations.

Environm ental ISO 14001:2004 provides the identify and control the
M anagem ent requirements for such a system and environmental impact of its
ISO 14004:2004 gives the guidelines activities as well as to continually
One key standard for a company’s for it. The other standards and improve its environmental
environmental management is the guidelines in ISO 14000 address performance and to implement a
ISO’s ‘ISO 14000.’ The ISO 14000 labelling, performance evaluation, life systematic approach to setting
family addresses various aspects cycle analysis, communication and environmental targets. ISO
of environmental management. auditing. 14001:2004 does not specify
The very first two standards, ISO levels of environmental
14001:2004 and ISO 14004:2004 An environmental management performance, as each business is
deal with environmental system meeting the requirements capable of different levels of
management systems.   of ISO 14001:2004 enables an performance due to their size and
organisation of any size or type to industry.
 E. MCCLARENCE 2010-09-15

Carbon Em issions The Future of Energy members as a Final Draft

M anagem ent International Standard (FDIS). If that
Across the world, carbon trading vote is positive, ISO 50001 should be
schemes that allow companies to The future ISO 50001 standard published as an International
offset their production of carbon for energy management was Standard by early 2011.
dioxide by investing in recently approved as a Draft
environmental schemes such as International Standard (DIS). ISO The Abrasives Hub will publish more
new forest planting is growing. 50001 has been created with the details of how to comply with ISO
However, many environmental aim of being a framework for
organisations believe that taking 50001 at a later date.
industrial plants, commercial
action to reduce individual facilities and entire organisations
companies production of carbon to manage energy consumption. Tougher attitudes to
dioxide is better than offset in the Now that ISO 50001 has polluters
longer time. The global advanced to this stage, national
manufacturer, SKF, for example, member bodies of ISO have Signs are that some countries are
has made a commitment to reduce been invited to vote on the finer getting tougher on companies. In the
its carbon footprint at all its details of the standard during the US, the Environmental Protection
production plants each year and five-month balloting period. Agency already has the teeth to
has set annual reduction targets enforce environmental laws if it
that it has met so far. The new standard is based on wishes to. In February 2010, the UK
the common elements found in Government’s Environment Agency
In The UK, Carbon Trust is a not- all of ISO’s management system became one of the first regulators to
for-profit company that work with standards and is designed to be given civil powers. They can now
private companies and the public have a high level of compatibility issue fines, order companies to clean
sector to help cut carbon with ISO 9001 (quality up any environmental damage they
emissions, save energy and management) and ISO 14001 have caused and stop operations
commercialise low carbon (environmental management). that are harmful to the environment.
technologies. The Carbon Trust’s ISO 50001 will provide energy The Environment Agency can also
own standards require management best practices, bring criminal proceedings in more
demonstrating that carbon good energy management serious cases.
emissions have been reduced and behaviours, evaluate the
that the company is committed to implementation of new energy- Effect on business
reducing them each year. efficient technologies and a
framework for promoting energy The risks of not being green are now
Tom Delay, the CEO of the Carbon efficiency throughout the supply more significant to businesses. Many
Trust has said, “We provide chain. large companies are committed to
companies with expert advice, only working with suppliers that have
finance and accreditation. Our job If the outcome of the DIS voting is environmental accreditation. The
right now is to help UK business in positive, the modified document will Red Bull Company was last year
the economic downturn to realise then be circulated to the ISO issued with a staggering £271,800
the benefits of moving to a low
 
carbon economy.”

“Business leaders who have

sound carbon management
strategies in place stand to
prosper both now and in the
future,” says Carbon Trust
Standard general manager,
Harry Morrison. “They stand to
sell more, forge better
business relationships and
attract more committed
workers. The Carbon Trust
Standard allows businesses
that have achieved certification
to talk with integrity about what
they have been doing to
reduce their carbon emissions.
Achieving the Standard shows
that they are taking serious
and credible steps to manage
their carbon footprint.”

 
 E. MCCLARENCE 2010-09-15

The general consensus is that the

abrasives industry is one that needs to
move with the times as consumers
buying choices are increasingly
motivated by environmentally friendly
products. Companies also use their
efforts in green technology as a way to
differentiate themselves.

Ray Bardsley, General Manager sia

Abrasives (GB) Ltd said, “In our
production processes, sia Abrasives
actively contributes to continually
reducing environmental impacts. For
example, sia Abrasives uses low-
phenol and water soluble bonding
agents in manufacturing, state-of-the-
art systems to filter exhaust air,
environmentally sound waste disposal
methods and repeatedly recycled
packaging materials, conserving
energy and resources.”
 
Prom oting the Green
fine for not meeting its requirements regulations are most widely used in
to recover and recycle packaging the UK whereas EMAS is more
In the US, the Society of Manufacturing
waste and register its compliance popular in the EU. The standards are
Engineers has recently announced
with the Environment Agency in the form of a checklist guide to
their ‘Lean to Green’ Manufacturing
between 1998 and 2006. implementing an organisation-wide
Conference in Columbus, Ohio from
environmental management system.
October 26-29. The conference is an
Companies with annual turnover of If a company meets this guide then it
attempt to address demand for
more than £2m and handle more is likely to pass an audit.
information on sustainability from
than 50 tonnes of packaging a year manufacturers as they look to reduce
must register with the Environment It is vital however that a company is their impact on the environment whilst
Agency or a compliance scheme. audited by an officially accredited by simultaneously improving
These company’s must also provide UKAS, such as NQA or the Bristish competitiveness and increasing
evidence of payment for recovery Standards Institute, otherwise they profitability. Topics covered will
and recycling of a specified many still not be meeting legal include: Creating a Sustainable Facility
proportion of their wood, aluminium, requirements. Official auditors use through Energy Efficiency Design,
steel, cardboard and plastic strict guidelines which companies Government and Industry Lessons in
packaging and so the impact on must meet, including spending a Collaboration and Best Practices in
manufacturing companies is great. minimum amount of time performing
Being Green, Productive and
checks and obtaining a high level of Profitable.
Assisting businesses to meet this documentary evidence to prove
legislation is the job of accredited satisfactory standards are in place. “The leading similarity between the
certification bodies. NQA is one benefits of lean and the benefits of
independent certification body M anufacturing Industry green is waste,” notes Gary Mikola,
accredited by the United Kingdom Efforts SME conference manager. “This
Accreditation Service (UKAS) Max conference offers proven business
Linnemann, environmental sector These days large companies seems practices to dramatically reduce the
manager for NQA has said, “Part of to profess a company ethos for overall impact of manufacturing on the
implementing a standard properly is ‘being green’ or at least environment.” The conference features
to make sure you’ve addressed all of ‘environmentally friendly.’ Has presentations, workshops and case
the applicable legislation. If you’re a environmental management become studies of successful methods
manager or director and you have so per functionary that it is a attendees can immediately implement
responsibility in this area, a standard requirement to stay competitive in to improve reduce their negative
is certainly going to put yours and most industries? impacts on the environment.
your shareholders’ minds at rest.” Additionally, attendees can choose to
As manufacturing is generally an go on the “Green Crawl Tour” and visit
NQA audits ISO 14001 as well as the industry that involves high-energy area facilities that have successfully
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme use and equally high waste implemented lean principles and green
(EMAS). Both standards cover production, environment is a key strategies.
similar environmental management point for manufacturers.
requirements, but the ISO’s