Technical Abstracts

Page 10....Clean and green manufacturing

by Fred Dellisola

The idea of the ecological Footprint was a collaboration between Professor William Rees and Dr Mathis Wackernagel who have pioneered the measurement of consumption by humans on earth and how our decisions impact on nature. 

Based on this philosophy, Fred Dellisola undertook the first case study with the Victorian EPA in 2001 and applied it to the coatings industry looking at reducing the ecological footprint by ordering raw materials once a week, reusing wash water and recycling damaged goods or rework. 

Sandmar Products conducted research and development into streamlining the manufacture of coloured fillers, finally having the ability to manufacture a variety of colours without washing up in between batches, saving up to 200L of fresh water per batch and four hours of labour. 

Dr Wackernagel has indicated that humanity's ecological footprint is 20% greater than the carrying capacity of the earth.  In short, we are running an ecological deficit, therefore we must be proactive and vigilant at work and home regarding the consumption of goods and services because 'we are all custodians of the environment'.  

News Headlines

BUSINESS NEWS

DSM inaugurates new resin plant in Germany

Royal DSM NV., the global Life Sciences and Material Sciences company headquartered in the Netherlands has announced that a new plant for the production of wet polyesters and other specialty resins in Meppen, Germany has been opened.....

Dow finalises sale of selecvted assets to Arkema

Arkema and The Dow Chemical company have jointly announced that they have closed Dow's divestiture to Arkema of its acrylic acid and esters business located at Clear Lake, Texas and its UCAR Emulsion systems specialty latex business in North America....

See SCAA Journal for more Business News.

ASIAN NEWS

Cognis opens affiliate operation in Malaysia

On January 1, specialty chemicals supplier Cognis opened an affiliate in Selangor, Malaysia.....

Huntsman's new Chinese joint venture

The Polyurethane division of Huntsman Corporation has created a new, China-based, joint venture with Jurong Ningwu Chemical Co. Ltd, to research, develop, manufacture and sell base polyether polyol products....

See SCAA Journal for more Asian News.