5 minute read
Following real estate business manufacturing does its first steps for zero net production by changing the approach in whole process of manufacturing. This development shows a way for new kind of engineering in industry.
Future´s plants no more will challenge climate and they will take care about own energy production without harmful consumption. Old approach of manufacturing is neither[nbsp]environmentally nor financially friendly. The major change is understanding the importance of what will be with the product after it has been used. This is the foot in the door towards lowering the global waste problem that influences on the whole chain of the production.
What will happen
after I use it?
On account of this question plants and factories are built and renovated with the reusable materials. Moreover, when purchasing these building materials, engineers more often pay attention on how the goods were produced. And there is no surprise that first choice falls on those products manufactured with high green standards. In fact, the price factor plays its role only after filtering offers by green production process. In other words, the social environmental responsibility affects the manufacturing industry as well.
In addition, this end-to-end thinking raises the preusage issue of the product – the way products are packed. Sustainable packaging can drive brand preference. What is the concept of sustainable package? Using less, recycling more, making things lighter, and using renewable materials. No more non-reusable plastic or heavy metal boxes. The innovations in this sphere can surprise. For example, the eco-based Mushroom® materials. Combining the agricultural waste and Fungal mycelium (the vegetative part of a mushroom) Ecovative create sustainable package and eco-building materials. Mycelium is natural, self-assembling glue, digesting crop waste to produce cost-competitive and environmentally responsible materials that perform. The process allows producing the material in variety of different shapes creating the package material for literally anything. This green innovation has a huge potential to replace many conventional materials.
Going after natural
colors of the goods
While we cannot escape packaging overall, the harmful impact of paint can be stopped. Did you know that most of the buildings built in Victorian period in England are dangerous for health? And it is only for using lead paint that was harmful enough the cause the fatal consequences. The World Health Organisation has reported a 20%-40% increased risk of certain types of cancer (in particular lung cancer) for those who come into regular contact with, or work with paint. Therefore, learning on the mistakes of past, leading paint producers use natural ingredients safe for human health and environment. That’s the path for manufacturing companies to take when getting to sustainable production. After all, one of the upcoming solutions is manufacturing materials and products that require no paint at all. Trending of wood color or other natural textures is a huge help for future eco-manufacturing.
Perception of beauty
“What to do with goods when I used it?” – reshapes the consumer behaviour. Simplification of the consumer tastes changes the beauty perception. The fashion on the natural and health conservative products is on the rise. Nevertheless the personalization and consumer-orientation in now the fundament of the successful business, it means being environmentally oriented on the first place. People become naturally-obsessed and ready to sacrifice own comfort for Earth ecosystem’s benefit. They look to brands solving environmental challenges, and companies have set themselves challenging sustainability targets.
As a part of EcoCity
Manufacturing finds new ways to benefit the EcoCity and one of them is the own energy production. Alternatively to dwindling and expensive fossil fuels, renewable energy power will be included in company’s strategy plan as an important development step. Located close to the cities in order to minimize logistics’ environmental impact, factories will no longer use coal or nuclear energy to cover their need. Instead, manufacturing will produce enough own renewable power for the city as well. For example, the Finnpulp’s planned new pulp mill in Finland is an advanced bioproduction facility and it offers the most efficient way to produce bioelectricity. Finnpulp will cover its own energy consumption needs, produce bioelectricity to the national markets and create biogas. The company will not use any fossil fuels. In addition the company will also investigate the possibilities to produce other bio-based products instead of burning waste materials.
The only question unsolved was the high cost of energy storage. Tesla is filling “missing piece” with its Tesla PowerPack, a 100kWh battery storage array for manufacturing sites, offered at a capital cost of around $US250/kWh, and 10kWT Tesla Powerwall, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, for electric vehicles and homes. This innovation opens the door for new and affordable solutions for manufacturing industry with larger storage space.
