Welding industry lags on green issues
3 Nov 2008
Andrew Robinson, environmental co-ordinator at Eastington-based Arc Energy Resources, discusses the importance of environmental awareness and the relative merits of ISO 14001 accreditation, as the welding industry continues to grow:
Despite the current high prominence of green issues in the media, relatively little effort has been made by the welding industry to try to offset its environmental impact. In an industry that doesn’t count environmental procedures in its ‘best practice’, it seems that many firms fail to appreciate the benefits that can arise from even partial implementation of these standards.
Consider the usual culprits – waste and energy. Waste management is the easiest way of simultaneously reducing environmental impacts (a business’s effect on the environment) and costs.
Many companies already recycle cardboard, but there are other opportunities. Several wire manufacturers will take back empty welding wire spools to re-use; any expired electrical equipment can be returned to its supplier under WEEE regulations; and redundant office furniture can be sent to charities instead of to landfill. Arc Energy Resources is constantly discovering new uses for old items, and is paid to have its scrap metal removed.
On the subject of energy use, while it may not be possible to reduce consumption during working hours, a quick tour of the factory after hours will unearth sources of energy wastage that can easily be avoided. Low energy light bulbs for office spaces offer lower electricity bills and longer life expectancy. Water bills fall instantly with the use of low-flush toilet systems, which can cost under £20.
Some of the pricier energy-saving measures can be government-funded through grants or loans. The Carbon Trust offers Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) on up-to-date energy-efficient equipment, and companies can borrow up to £100,000 interest-free for projects that are expected to reduce energy usage. Arc Energy Resources was able to reduce electricity consumption in its cladding unit by 24% by installing latest generation power sources, funded by such a loan. The savings made on electricity bills is expected to exceed the overall cost of the equipment, and thus be sufficient to repay the loan. By undertaking measures such as these, we help the environment, make cost savings, and move ever closer to international accreditation.
The main crux of the standards is the creation of an Environmental Management System (EMS). Similar to those that many companies have in place to manage quality, and health and safety, an EMS is a formal system for monitoring environmental performance, legal compliance and continual improvement. Although this sounds like a complex job, it can easily be broken down into manageable stages by following the British Standard BS 8555.
There are many organisations available to offer help and advice, but one that Arc Energy Resources has found useful in its strive for accreditation is the Acorn Scheme, run by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). Divided into six phases, this involves establishing the baseline, ensuring legal compliance, developing targets, implementing the EMS, auditing, and final acknowledgement.
As soon as one of these stages is complete, the achievement is logged on the Acorn register so that it can appreciated by other companies, be they customers looking for sustainable development, or suppliers hoping to ‘green’ their credentials.
Herein lays one of the keys to environmental success: every little helps. Even the smallest action by one person, such as turning off a light, can have a significant effect cumulatively. It is important to communicate this to all employees, from top management to welders on the shop floor. Everyone can make a difference and overall this can lead to significant cost savings and the all-important continual improvement required by ISO 14001. Arc Energy Resources found it useful to allocate responsibility for environmental performance to an individual within the company, with control over a ‘green team’. They can implement the firm’s environmental policies and encourage workers to adhere to them.
Although it may not be compulsory yet, don’t be surprised to find an increasing volume of environmental legislation descending on UK businesses as the government pushes to continue to be the ‘green giant’ of Europe. So if helping the environment isn’t a strong enough incentive to become accredited, staying one step ahead of the legislative game might be worth it! And even if the legal requirement doesn’t materialise for the welding industry, it can’t be long before environmental performance becomes as important a criterion as quality for choosing a supplier.
Those that can prove their credentials will always have an advantage over less environmentally conscious firms. So although the welding industry is not the dirtiest, there is still much room for improvement. And companies that can prove their commitment to the environment (through accreditation to ISO 14001 or EMAS) stand a better chance of flourishing in a new age of growth and climate change.
