Sustainable future proofing in manufacturing
April 5, 2023
Updated on: August 18, 2023
3 min read
As manufacturing changes, so do the considerations of the new generation of manufacturing professionals.
At every level, environmental concerns are at the forefront of everyone’s mind. That includes all of our members at Marvo. The ever rising tide of global electronic waste is something we’re actively fighting as a corporation.
But what is e-waste?
Consider every phone you've previously disposed of. As well as every microwave, PC screen, and laptop in the office. Now consider this on a larger scale and more... Industrial. The list of circuit boards, LEDs, and printing equipment is limitless.
Why is e-waste bad?
Much of this is destroyed through burning or placed in landfills. This then causes pollution, health hazards and general unwanted disruption to the ecosystem. The environmental factors alone are concerning but in 2022 alone, almost 60 million tonnes of e-waste was generated.
Aside from environmental concerns, there are a number of other challenges with electronic waste. These can range from huge quantities of e-waste to increasing expenditures for individuals and corporations. Therefore, calling the need for electronic waste management.
Rare Earth Metals
When a device stops working, there are still several parts that will continue to function. These parts are often made from rare and valuable materials. If the device is properly disposed of, these working parts and materials can be recycled and reused in other new devices.
These significant financial savings can be passed on to the end user because components will be easier to locate and source. However, there are equally important environmental savings to be made as well.
What is Tantalum?
Right now, 4000 metres below the surface of the Pacific Ocean there is a battle for rare earth metals. Rare earths are used in a huge variety of consumer technologies such as hard disk drives and clean energy technologies. Tantalum, the rarest stable metal, is widely used in wind turbines because of its unsurpassed energy storing capabilities.
Can you actually recycle rare earth metals?
Yes, the frequency of these metals, Tantalum among them, means they can be found in obsolete technologies and recycled. This decreases the need for rare earth metal mining. It also reduces the environmental damage caused by mining which improves the sustainability in manufacturing.
Guarding against obsolescence in your facility is another great way to stay green. As machines become older, newer models are released. Some machine parts are discontinued by manufacturers, becoming obsolete.
Personnel skilled in maintaining and operating older machines leave. All these factors and more can mean huge financial and environmental losses as parts need to be replaced and machines upgraded. Forward planning and a service that lets you buy from a range of obsolete parts can mitigate these losses.
At Marvo we fully understand the impact manufacturing has on the environment. That’s why we provide a range of obsolete parts. All of which have been saved from e-waste and brought back to full functionality.
We’re here to assist you in saving time and money. Providing Your Parts. Your Way.
Hungry for more? Head on over to my blog “The Smart Part” - There’s nothing artificial about the intelligence you’ll find there! Or, if you’d rather get down to business, ask me how I can help you streamline your parts procurement process!
