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10 Sustainability
its emissions from the local area, such as by designs that incorporate large forest
and green tracts to offset its emissions. One electronics corporation in Japan that
incorporated this concept benefits economically by more than USD $6.5 million, as
it reduced its use of concrete and the cost of waste management (Despeisse et al.
2012).
Area 3: Reducing Product Environmental Impact Throughout Its Lifespan
Many manufacturers can seek to reduce the environmental impact of their products,
both during the use of the product by the consumer and disposal. Using microbeads
as an example, many manufacturers have now ceased their use. This means at the
end of the product’s life, they have a reduced environmental impact as the plastic
will no longer seep through waste systems and into the ocean. Some strategies can
also result in an economical and financial benefit (Despeisse et al. 2012). In this
case, the microbeads no longer need to be made and the manufacturer will attract
a new “eco-friendly” consumer base who specifically look for products that do not
contain microbeads.
While these are just a few small areas in which the manufacturing industry
can seek to improve upon its environmental sustainability, it illustrates that simple
measures can have a huge effect. There are already strict laws and legislation in
certain states that demand companies and manufacturers meet certain environmental
targets for their emissions and waste. However, implementing stricter laws for
environmental protection, there could be a substantial decrease in the impact
of manufacturing on the environment. What measures can you recommend for
your community or county to ensure that it develops sustainable manufacturing
approaches? The Cancer Villages in China is one of the case studies that highlight
the way poor manufacturing practices can lead to nation-wide epidemics. Cancer
villages are the areas close to factories that cause pollution with unusually high
levels of deaths.
Discuss this concept and its effect on the population.
10.4.2.7 Mining
Similar to the manufacturing industry, mining has also historically been an industry
that has substantial detrimental environmental effects. With the continued discovery
of new oil, mineral reserves, and coal deposits, an improvement in material recycling
and our technological advances in recent years, our concerns over running out of
non-renewable resources have eased. This has meant the mining industry continues
to boom with no signs of slowing down (Despeisse et al. 2012). While mining
itself occurs only on a relatively small area of land, the associated pollution and
infrastructure from its activities have a vastly disproportionate effect on ecosystem
health.
10 Sustainability
its emissions from the local area, such as by designs that incorporate large forest
and green tracts to offset its emissions. One electronics corporation in Japan that
incorporated this concept benefits economically by more than USD $6.5 million, as
it reduced its use of concrete and the cost of waste management (Despeisse et al.
2012).
Area 3: Reducing Product Environmental Impact Throughout Its Lifespan
Many manufacturers can seek to reduce the environmental impact of their products,
both during the use of the product by the consumer and disposal. Using microbeads
as an example, many manufacturers have now ceased their use. This means at the
end of the product’s life, they have a reduced environmental impact as the plastic
will no longer seep through waste systems and into the ocean. Some strategies can
also result in an economical and financial benefit (Despeisse et al. 2012). In this
case, the microbeads no longer need to be made and the manufacturer will attract
a new “eco-friendly” consumer base who specifically look for products that do not
contain microbeads.
While these are just a few small areas in which the manufacturing industry
can seek to improve upon its environmental sustainability, it illustrates that simple
measures can have a huge effect. There are already strict laws and legislation in
certain states that demand companies and manufacturers meet certain environmental
targets for their emissions and waste. However, implementing stricter laws for
environmental protection, there could be a substantial decrease in the impact
of manufacturing on the environment. What measures can you recommend for
your community or county to ensure that it develops sustainable manufacturing
approaches? The Cancer Villages in China is one of the case studies that highlight
the way poor manufacturing practices can lead to nation-wide epidemics. Cancer
villages are the areas close to factories that cause pollution with unusually high
levels of deaths.
Discuss this concept and its effect on the population.
10.4.2.7 Mining
Similar to the manufacturing industry, mining has also historically been an industry
that has substantial detrimental environmental effects. With the continued discovery
of new oil, mineral reserves, and coal deposits, an improvement in material recycling
and our technological advances in recent years, our concerns over running out of
non-renewable resources have eased. This has meant the mining industry continues
to boom with no signs of slowing down (Despeisse et al. 2012). While mining
itself occurs only on a relatively small area of land, the associated pollution and
infrastructure from its activities have a vastly disproportionate effect on ecosystem
health.