Describe how your organization is using environmentally friendly practices in its daily operations.

TLT Sounding Board August 2009

 

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Part of STLE’s official mission is to “conserve resources and protect the environment.” 81% of respondents to this month’s survey question stated that their companies are doing exactly that by proactively seeking and following environmentally friendly practices in their daily operations. Recycling was high on the list of suggestions, as was following proper waste-disposal procedures. Many readers cited the need to perform oil analysis and change fluids only when necessary. But those are just a few of the dozens of excellent suggestions. Readers also suggested some simple measures that can be taken by an organization looking to become more environmentally responsible.

Before a new chemical is brought into any plant, it is reviewed by a committee to be certain it does not possess environmentally threatening components.

We practice recycling, affirmative procurement and pollution-prevention policies and take yearly training.

I work in a factory with 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Recently, about 90% of the lighting in the plant was changed so that it is being controlled by motion sensors. This has reduced the amount of electricity usage by $20,000 a month. Also, the efficiency of our boilers was increased by 50% because of the installation of a different fuel delivery system that provided better combustion of the natural gas. The entire plant now can be run with only half of the boilers on-line.

Biodegradable cleaners are used rather than solvents.

Proper waste stream disposal.

Flexible time to start and finish working day. This allows personnel to avoid traffic jams.

Use rags for cleaning vs. paper towels.

We recycle all solvents, oils, paper, plastics, metals, etc. All sites that have spill potential have containment surroundings.

Buy a good lubricant and extend the drain intervals.

We recycle or sell all of our scrap fluids and greases to a third party that uses the fluids for heating a dryer. Very little waste leaves our plant.

Used lubricant and containers are recycled or returned for deposit. Wiping rags are recycled. Oil is changed when additives have been depleted, not time-based.

I own four quick-lube shops in Florida. My locations are all 100% containment buildings. No drains of any kind are hooked to municipal sewers (except toilets and hand sinks). All mopping and other cleaning fluids are mopped up, stored in waste tanks and removed by a waste-oil receiver along with my other waste-oil products. I encourage all the locals to bring me their waste-oil products so I can dispose of them properly, with no restrictions on amounts or type of waste fluids. I only use recycled antifreeze, and my uniform supplier has demonstrated they are environmentally friendly with their detergents. We are filtering rather than replacing oil. Incandescent lights have been replaced by fluorescents.

We are very big into reclamation services. We have four 53-foot tractor-trailer trucks working in the Southeast helping customers reuse and cutting down their usage.

A significant portion of our electricity comes from solar panels, and we use reclaimed water on our landscaping.

We are being more vigilant about preventing spills of any kind and insuring all tanks have adequate containment.

Computer optimization of hydraulic systems to determine how they can be cycled on and off to optimize energy conservation.

My organization is focusing on changing all the processes and materials used in our products toward a better (greener) earth.

We follow procedures designed to meet or exceed recommended environmental guidelines.

We encourage environmentally friendly practices in most of our activities such as printing on both sides of paper, recycling paper, van pooling, preventing spills and reporting it with corrective action when that happens. Every loss is investigated.

We are a lab and collect and recycle all unused samples as well as waste solvents. We wash and reuse shipping bottles, and we recycle all clean cardboard boxes.



Temperature control in offices. Reduce car trips by consolidating errands. Double-sided paper. Recycle ink cartridges.

We work to reduce waste, particularly solid waste. We have our own wastewater treatment facility onsite. We are working to develop new biorenewable products.

We keep pollution out of the water that goes through our dams and spend tons of time and money taking care of fish in the river.

Recycled paper, long-life ink jet cartridges, power off computers when not in use, and we sell a veggie grease.

We capture oils and oily water in separator tanks. Oily waste is sent to a recycler for processing and reuse.

Promoting the idea that using less oil or filters helps the environment.

We’re constantly trying to minimize our carbon footprint.

We have taken on a complete line of clean-up materials that are based upon good bacteria that can consume oil-based spills.

Using an eco-friendly degreaser.

Have been helping people reduce usage and recycle MWFs for more than 30 years.

We never dispose of lubricants directly into the sewer or ground.

We aim at zero-discharge operations. All industrial effluents are categorized in terms of their harmful effects, possible reuse and disposal/treatment procedures. All waste products let out of the premises conform to local regulatory norms for disposal. Waste water is recycled, treated and used for purposes such as road washing, gardening and flushing.

Everything we do is biobased.

One example is that we are using biofuel to produce steam for the heat-exchange operations. Residual heat from the plant is used to heat residential areas in the community close to the refinery.

Everything that is brought into the facility is accounted for as it goes out.

Minimize lube oil consumption.

We perform a daily check of oil usage and leaks, energy-efficient motors, shutdown of motors when not producing.

Would you say your organization is proactively seeking and following environmentally friendly practices in its daily operations?
Yes 81%
No 19%
Based on results from 130 respondents.

Offer a simple piece of advice for a company looking to become more environmentally responsible.
Go paperless!

Prior to purchasing any product with chemical components, review the appropriate MSDS and become informed as to the potential environment threats by each component chemical.



Greater use of remote communications instead of travel.

Stop using Styrofoam coffee cups in the break room.

Carefully segregate different types of waste.

Audit CO₂ emissions.

Just do small things and see where it takes you. You don’t have to completely revamp the system; everything you do makes a difference.

Improve disposal and usage practices for lubricants and fuels.

Change and usage has to start at the top. Do as I do, not do as I say.

Don’t just change oil on plant machinery, mobile equipment and company vehicles. Use oil analysis to determine the oil’s condition, and only change oil when the condition of the oil has been compromised. This is an inexpensive way to limit the amount of oil consumption in most applications.

Keeping track of electricity consumption.

Turn off computers when not in use.

I would recommend hiring someone who can look at all aspects of the company and make recommendations.

Take an active role in reducing the consumption of office products as well as reducing your waste stream by looking at best practices in cleaners and everyday use products.

Natural lighting. Solar power. Recycling.

Train someone who can then provide guidance to the rest of us.

Start with an environmental policy, measure current performance and make targets to improve performance.

Do an audit of your raw material and energy consumption and your waste generation. Compare yourself to other responsible companies for possible areas for improvement.

Consider where everything goes if it gets thrown away or dumped somewhere. Now what would you do if you and your family lived downstream of your plant? The efforts you take to save your family should be the same as those taken for your company. Eliminate any toxic substances in your products.

One simple but effective action is training. But employees must realize that the company is committed to changes, otherwise it won’t work. Evaluate all company procedures from manufacturing to offices. A good tip to break resistance is asking why a task or job is done that way. Question the products and procedures, then check environmental and safer alternatives.

Look for possible gains in efficiency (manpower, operation time, scrap reduction), as well as recycling.

Identify all areas where chemicals are utilized, identify those that are environmentally hazardous or regulated and see if any of these could be replaced or managed better. Reduce usage as much as possible. Implement a recycling program for all recyclable materials.



Encourage ride share for employees.

Start out slow at first.

Brainstorm the ideas with employees and raise awareness.

Dispose of all waste like you live next to the dump, and drink reprocessed wastewater.

The most acceptable place to start is by implementing practices that also save money, like performing an energy audit in order to identify areas/activities where benefits can be realized.

Containment solutions, engineering solutions, environmentally friendly lubricants.

Use products that do not contain zinc antiwear additives. Use products with proven biodegradability.



Start sorting trash for recycling it. It’s an easy measurement that can be implemented with office space.

Take proactive steps to improve efficiency and prevent corrosion.

Give incentives to employees who share rides to work. Not only would this help the environment and save their own money, employees would have extra time to discuss work-related issues.

I advise examining each project and prereviewing the end result. Are we doing what is not only best for our company but in the best interest of being environmental friendly? Common sense plays a big part in these decisions, so think before you act and take action accordingly. Remember, in the end your decisions will reflect your company’s business savvy.

Automatic light switches in every room that are not used on a constant basis such as bathrooms and conference rooms.

One small act of kindness grows. It’s the same with environmental awareness.

The company can develop interaction with environmental preservation organizations in order to share knowledge/standard practices that ensure safe emission procedures and efficient material/energy management.

Perform an energy audit for each location.

Study emissions, fuel needs, raw material needs, etc. In short, get acquainted with basic materials associated with product manufacture.

Join STLE.

Change all activities in the organization to be environmentally friendly: workplace layout, personnel, machines, materials, effluent treatment measures. Think of greening. ISO certification should be only given to companies following green technologies.

Reduce the use of non-degrading materials like plastic bags for packaging. Tell all others with whom you deal to do the same.

Turn down your heating in the winter by 1 degree C and reduce your air conditioning in the summer (don’t cool more than 5 C compared to outside temps).

Stop leakages and send your drums to reconditioners.

Always ensure that your business activities leave the environment in better condition than before you started.

Use biodiesel.



Install smart electricity and gas meters in order to identify main areas of consumption and then take action to reduce it.

If your organization is not very active in utilizing environmentally friendly practices, what would you say is the primary reason?
Cost 41%
Performance 4%
Product unavailability 7%
Lack of information 17%
Just not a priority 22%
Other 28%
Based on results from 130 respondents. Total exceeds 100% because some respondents chose more than one answer.
Editor’s Note: Sounding Board is based on an e-mail survey of 7,200 TLT readers. Views expressed are those of the respondents and do not reflect the opinions of the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers. STLE does not vouch for the technical accuracy of opinions expressed in Sounding Board, nor does inclusion of a comment represent an endorsement of the technology by STLE.