Environmental
Impacts
CFCs damaged the ozone layer, DDT a pesticide now even found in polar bears. Thalydomide caused birth defects. Asbestosis was a hidden killer. The jury is still out on genetically modified organisms!
Process imapcts can cause a wide range of diverse affects
to land, air, water and biodiversity.
Check
out range of environmental impacts [Unit 1]
Impacts
upon the environment include:
Total loss of finite resources such as coal and other minerals.
Land degredation caused by mining.
Deforestation leading to desertification.
Loss of biodiversity
Burning
fossil fuels leads to climate change and locally poor air
quality.
In depth information on impacts of energy
Wasted
resources.
Water
pollution:
- kills fish and other aquatic life
- involves costly clean-up
- reduces availability of fresheater
- requires expensive treatment
- leaks reduce available quantity
More about water quality
Failure
to manage environmental aspects of your work results in continuous
pollution of land, air and water from process activities.
Reduction of emissions and discharges cannot be achieved without
control.
Recycling
nutrients, moderating the water cycle and climate, building
soil, pollinating plants, maintaining habitats or homes for
other species, are all at risk from reduced biodiversity.
The United Nations reports that 80% of species decline is
a result of habitat destruction.
Failure to take environmental considerations into account
leads to:
- inefficient
products & processes
- inefficient
use of resources
- increased
waste
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Environmental
Principles
Precautionary
Principle
If
there is a serious risk to the environment, organisations
should not be put off from doing something about it, just
because the certainty of scientific evidence has not yet arrived.
Or
"Be safe rather than sorry"
Cleaner
Production
Cleaner
Production is about producing goods whilst using cleaner processes.
CP looks to reduce or remove contaminants from processes or
products at source - rather than trying to clean up using
expensive "end of pipe" technologies. In common
use, the term extends to cover resource use...
Resource
Use
Resource
Use
is driven by concerns about finite resources, as well as usual
cost concerns. The market says that as a finite resource runs
out, the costs of it will rise. Good resource use makes the
same quantity of goods whilst using fewer resources. Good
resource use equals doing more with less and is reflected
in each of the 3 following principles..
Energy Efficiency
Energy
Efficiency is being driven by controls on climate change as
well as sensible economic sense. Much energy use is inefficient
as it concentrates on speed rather than efficiency.
Waste
Hierarchy
Waste
minimisation is the prevention or reduction of waste - anything
that you dont need, at source.
The
waste hierachy sets out the best ways to get rid of waste
- and the best way is not to create it.
Water Control
Water control is a major issue.
The quality of fresh water is increasingly compromised by
chemical pollutants making sourcing and treating water a complex
and expensive process. In many parts of the world there are
severe water shortages. So much effort is being put into making
sure water gets where it is needed in decent condition. Water
control improves with better understanding of the "water
cycle" and the recognition that there is no 'new' water.
Environmental Management
An environmental management
system aims primarily at measuring and setting auditable targets
to reduce the overall environmntal impacts and improve the
environmental performance of a company or of an organisation.
Environmental Conservation
Conservation is more than preserving and valuing wild
spaces such as Nature Reserves. It is the support of biodiversity
by maintaining all habitats and demonstrating stewardship
and not exploitation. This means valuing wild places and maintaining
wildlife, including the wildlife refuge at the corner of your
car park!
Eco Design
Eco Design takes notice of
the possible environmental impacts in the design of a product.
This means applying all the environmental principles and taking
lessons from nature when designing new products.The
best way to do this is make use of all sorts of natural patterns,
materials and processes.
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Environmental
Practices
Ban Asbestos
Stop Smoking.
Spot Significant Risk
Provide GM-Free food
Good Housekeeping
Suppress evaporation
Reduce emmissions
Modify Process
Clean up process
Go Organic
Identify material use
Map resource flow
Calculate ratios
Measure energy
Monitor energy use
Switch Off
Use renewable sources
Reduce waste
Reuse materials
Recycle product
Refurbish machines
Mend and Repair
Compost
Turn taps off
Use grey water
Control Leakages
Prevent Flash-flooding
Follow environmental Policy
Help set targets
Suggest improvements
Train employees
Carry out audit
Make Garden. Put up a bird box
Establish wildlife. Build a pond
Provide bird & Butterfly food sources
Planting trees provides food & shelter and improves air
quality
Draw with natural structures & designs
Design for natural efficiency
Innovate using models from nature
Copy natural design.
Adapt natural patterns
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