Unit 20 - Packaging and the environment Flashcards
What are the topics that government around the world can cover to tackle climate change?
restriction on emission levels
Restrictions of water use
Changes in agricultural growth patterns
increases in energy prices
changes in consumer habits
What is a key measure of environmental damage?
carbon dioxide - greenhouse gas.
Distillation due to it’s large usage of heat energy, has the potential to be a major net producer of carbon dioxide.
What is the principle source of carbon dioxide emissions in the spirits packaging industry?
burning of of fossil fuels, either in the plant itself for heating purposes and in the generation of the electricity supplied.
How much energy does electricity produce as well as carbon dioxide?
25% of the energy required
Creates almost 50% of carbon dioxide emissions
How much energy does natural gas produce as well as carbon dioxide?
66% of total energy requirement.
40% carbon emissions.
What are examples of Horizontal technologies techniques?
Steam raising
Refridgeration
compressed air
utility pipework distribution systems and insulation
Combined heat and power
electric motors and drives
Biomass solutions
What is the challenge of sustainable development?
To achieve economic, social and environmental objects at the same time.
What is approach 1 in achieving the savings of energy?
Horizontal technologies.
Can be invariably be applied across many industries, for example:
Steam raising, refrigeration, compressed air, utility pipework distribution systems and insulation, combined heat and power, electric motors and drives, biomass solutions as alternative energy sources.
What is approach 2 in achieving savings of energy?
overall energy management.
What is technique A in overall energy management?
Analysis of energy use and implementation of a monitoring & targeting (M & T) system.
This is a fundamental energy management technique that must always be implemented first. It ensures that all energy usage is monitored on a regular basis.
Information findings must be spread within the plant, this is of prime importance as it’s in line with awareness training which helps motivate staff.
What is technique B in overall energy management?
An investigation is initiated to look at an area (or areas) oh high energy usage or known inefficiency.
High energy users would be targeted first for example:
electricity - refrigeration, compressed air, large pumps, and conveyor systems.
What are the key processes in the targeted investigation plan?
Audit the process
produce findings
evaluate findings
produce action plan
make modification/investment
re-evaluate process performance
assess energy saving and financial implications.
What is technique C in overall energy management?
Pinch analysis and pinch technology.
-Introduced in 1980’s - provides a systematic approach to analyse energy networks and improve the energy performance of industrial processes.
Uses graphical representations of the energy flows in the process and utility streams, to determine the minimum energy consumption a process should use to meet its specific production requirements.
What are the two steps of pinch technology?
1st Step - composite curves are created considering all the streams within the process that require cooling as “hot” lines & all the streams that require heating as “cold” line. Theory is then compared with the actual amount of utility to pinpoint to what extent there is room for improvement. Where the “hot” and “cold” points come closest to each other are called “pinch point”
Step 2 - aspects that can be improved can be studied from the perspective of energy conservation (savings), operational costs and new plant capital costs.
Finally, the heat exchange network is improved and optimised.
What is approach D of overall energy management?
Alternative technologies.
Require significant capital investment to be realised
Technologies might be:
Combined heat power
Wind power
Generation of methane from biomass.
When “borrowing” water from the environment, how should plants treat the water?
Treat is as needed
use it once (mostly)
treat it again ( where BOD/COD is too high)
Throw it away
This can be represented as the “Water supply chain”
What are the three purposes for water consuming?
Product water
Process water - for cleaning packaging plant, washing packages before filing, cooling and heating.
Service water - for boilers, general cleaning water.
What are the strategies to conserve water?
A) Analysis of water use and implementation of a monitoring and targeting (M&T) system.
B) targeted investigation and action plan
C) Feasibility studies into alternative technologies
What are the typical savings in Reduction in uncontrolled use? (housekeeping)
20-30%
What are the typical savings in Improved control (management)
20-30%
What are the typical savings in water reuse, water recycling, & design improvements?
10-20%
What was the purpose of the legislation created in the 1990s
divert packaging waste from landfill by forcing the recycling of packaging materials
Describe the European “Packaging and Packaging waste directive 1994”
Between 50-65% packaging must be recovered.
recovered being - Recycling
Energy recovery
composting and biodegrading
- 25-45% of packaging must be recycled as defined above with a minimum of 15% of any individual packaging materials being recycled.
What are the variants in requirements of individual US states.
Ban particular products from landfill
ban all containers from landfill
ban the disposal of recyclable packaging materials
mandate deposits on beverage containers
require the payment of an advance disposal fee
What is the Producer responsibility obligations regulations 2007?
Specific to UK
“collective” producer responsibility” enforcing producers of packaging to take responsibility for their environmental impact.
producers to pay a proportion of the cost of recovery and recycling of their packaging.
How does a company fall under the legislation of Producer responsibility obligations regulations 2007?
have a turnover of more than £2million
handled more than 50 tonnes of packaging in the previous calendar year
What are governments’ objectives when it comes to minimising packaging material?
to minimise packaging and packaging waste as far as possible
to promote reuse of packaging materials
to encourage recovery and in particular the recycling of packaging waste
What are the four key drivers to minimise packaging material and encourage recycling
-Legislation
- market mechanisms
- The consumer
- Cost
What would minimal packaging be described as?
“packaging shall be so manufactured that the packaging volume and weight be limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and consumer.
Describe the LCA (Life Cycle Analysis)
- Entire life cycle of an item of packaging is investigated
- At each of these stages, environmental impacts are measured
- These impacts are summed up and analysed to give an overall picture of the environmental impact of the pack.
What are the stages for value engineering.
1 Information gathering
2. Definition of function
3. Speculation of alternatives
4. Evaluation of all alternative ways of meeting the requirements.
5.Verification
6. presentation of proposals
7. Implementation & subsequent follow up.
