Best Practices, Green Technology

Top 11 Ways to Reduce the Carbon Footprint in Industrial Settings

In a world grappling with the urgent need to combat climate change, industrial manufacturing stands out as a significant contributor to carbon emissions. As global efforts to limit carbon emissions intensify, industries must play their part in achieving sustainability goals. There are numerous ways to help reduce industrial carbon emissions: adopting new green technologies like solvent recovery, employing waste reduction strategies, or empowering employees to make green choices, to name a few. By taking a multi-faceted approach to reducing emissions, facilities can make a positive impact on both sustainability and their bottom line.

Jordan Huffman
October 26, 2023

Understanding the Carbon Challenge

To comprehend the magnitude of the challenge, it’s crucial to recognize that industrial manufacturing accounts for a substantial portion of global carbon emissions. According to recent data, approximately one-fifth of the world’s carbon emissions stem from the manufacturing and production sectors, which consume a staggering 54% of the world’s energy sources.¹

Competing in a Carbon-Conscious World

Before we delve into the strategies to reduce industrial carbon emissions in manufacturing, let’s consider the competitive landscape. As the world embraces sustainability, companies that fail to adapt risk losing their share of the market as customers opt for more green or eco-friendly alternatives. Not only that, but failing to have strong environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments and compliance with emerging regulations can result in penalization and fines. Your competitors are likely already making changes to reduce their carbon footprint, and doing so isn’t just about meeting regulations—it’s also about meeting customer expectations and securing your long-term profitability.

Understanding Scope Emissions

When it comes to assessing and managing industrial carbon emissions, it’s crucial to understand the concept of scope emissions. These emissions are categorized into three scopes, each with a different level of control and influence:

Scope 1 Emissions: Your Direct Impact

Scope 1 emissions include direct greenhouse gas emissions that result from your manufacturing facility’s activities. This encompasses emissions from burning fuels for energy, operating machinery, and more.² Reducing scope 1 emissions often involves optimizing your internal processes and adopting cleaner energy sources. For example, transitioning from the use of virgin solvent for cleaning purposes to using recycled solvent.

Scope 2 Emissions: Indirect Impact via Energy Sources

Scope 2 emissions involve indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the electricity, steam, heat, or cooling your facility purchases. While you may not directly control the emissions from the energy you buy, you can make a difference by choosing greener energy sources. Investing in energy-efficient technologies and systems can also help lower your scope 2 emissions.

Scope 3 Emissions: The Broader Impact

Scope 3 emissions are the most extensive and often the most challenging to address. They encompass all indirect emissions that occur in your value chain but are not directly owned or controlled by your organization. These emissions occur upstream (related to your suppliers) and downstream (related to your customers).³ Greenhouse gas emissions associated with the shipping activities are considered part of Scope 3 and need to be accounted for in Scope 3 reporting. Reducing scope 3 emissions requires collaboration with suppliers and customers to make sustainable choices across the entire supply chain.

Breakdown of Scope 1, 2, & 3 Emissions⁴

Now that you understand the different scope emissions, let’s explore 11 actionable steps for reducing industrial carbon emissions in manufacturing:

1. Transition to Renewable Energy Sources

Transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of industrial facilities. By generating electricity from clean sources, you can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Investigate local incentives and subsidies to make this transition more affordable.⁵

2. Improve Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency within manufacturing processes is another pivotal step that can significantly reduce scope 1 emissions. Upgrading equipment, optimizing processes, and implementing energy-saving technologies can substantially reduce energy consumption and, consequently, industrial carbon emissions. Conduct energy audits to identify areas for improvement, such as optimizing equipment, using LED lighting, and implementing advanced control systems. Efficiency upgrades not only reduce emissions but can also lead to cost savings. ⁶

3. Optimize Your Supply Chain

Emissions associated with your supply chain can be over 11 times higher than operational emissions.⁷ Therefore, optimizing your supply chain by sourcing materials from environmentally responsible suppliers can be a powerful strategy. Consider collaborating with partners who share your commitment to reducing industrial carbon emissions. Encourage your suppliers to adopt eco-friendly practices, source sustainable materials, and reduce their own industrial carbon emissions.

Similarly, offer products designed for sustainability to help your customers reduce their carbon footprint, like using more environmentally friendly chemicals like recycled solvent. Another aspect to be conscious of is optimizing your transportation practices to reduce emissions associated with the transportation of goods. Consider investing in fuel-efficient or electric vehicles, consolidate shipments, and explore alternative transportation methods like rail or sea shipping, which can be more eco-friendly than long-haul trucking.

4. Reduce Waste and Recycle

Reducing waste generation within industrial processes and implementing recycling programs can lead to lower industrial carbon emissions. By diverting waste from landfills and incineration, you contribute to a more sustainable future. Minimize waste generation by implementing waste reduction and recycling programs with onsite recycling in your facility. Recycling materials and reusing components can significantly reduce emissions associated with raw material extraction and production. In this context, one innovative solution is solvent recovery, which has a substantial impact on emissions reduction.

Onsite solvent recovery, particularly using advanced technologies like CleanPlanet’s AlwaysClean solvent recyclers, plays a pivotal role in waste reduction. These systems have the capacity to yield up to 95% of available solvent from feed streams, significantly reducing your reliance on virgin solvent makeup.

Furthermore, onsite solvent recovery reduces waste sent for incineration and fuel blending, as well as fossil fuel consumption during waste transportation, translating into a substantial decrease in industrial carbon emissions. It also offers businesses an opportunity to save on costs while simultaneously adopting more sustainable practices. These environmental savings can be passed downstream to customers as a scope 3 emissions offset.

5. Institute Carbon Pricing and Offsetting

Implementing internal carbon pricing mechanisms can incentivize emission reduction efforts. By attaching a cost to industrial carbon emissions, you encourage your organization to explore more eco-friendly alternatives.⁸ Consider investing in carbon offset programs to compensate for emissions that are challenging to eliminate. These programs involve supporting projects that capture or reduce greenhouse gases, such as reforestation initiatives or renewable energy projects.

6. Employ Green Technology - Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage

Industrial carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology is a relatively new solution that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This innovative technology is applicable in a wide range of industries including cement, chemicals, fertilizer, steel, hydrogen, and refining, and is increasingly accessible to private-sector businesses.⁹

CCUS technology is designed to capture carbon emissions at their source and securely sequester them underground. It has the potential to eliminate a substantial portion of CO2 emissions from industrial facilities, encompassing both emissions from energy-related processes and industrial operations, with reductions ranging from 90 to 99 percent.¹⁰

Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) ¹¹

7. Adopt Carbon Data Transparency

Embrace data transparency in industrial carbon emissions reporting. Accurate tracking and reporting help in benchmarking decarbonization efforts. Openly sharing emissions data with stakeholders, customers, and investors demonstrates your commitment to reducing your carbon footprint. Accurate data on industrial carbon emissions is central to any effective carbon reduction strategy. Robust datasets enable you to set realistic targets, track progress, and make informed decisions. Technologies and platforms that facilitate real-time monitoring and reporting, such as CleanPlanet’s MyCleanPlanet portal are invaluable in this regard.

With comprehensive data, you can analyze emissions across your entire value chain, identify hotspots, and prioritize areas for improvement. Furthermore, transparent reporting can enhance your brand’s reputation and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. There are many ways that industrial sectors and organizations can reduce their direct and indirect emissions. However, the key starting point for organizations to understand the potential impact of mitigation projects is developing a GHG inventory.¹²

Greenhouse gas inventories are a list of emission sources and the associated emissions quantified using standardized methods.¹³ Think of it like taking inventory of available product stock. For a store to know what their biggest seller is, they need to monitor which stock is turning over the fastest and identify the need to order more before they run out. Once your biggest GHG contributors are identified you can develop strategies to mitigate or offset them in future production. Industrial producers can use inventories to track increases and decreases in future emissions and implement carbon emission reduction strategies accordingly.

8. Encourage Employee Engagement

Encourage employee engagement in sustainability initiatives. Your workforce can be a valuable source of ideas and motivation for reducing emissions within the organization. A cycle-to-work scheme could be a great incentive for someone to jump on their bike instead of getting in the car – this could have a positive impact on both the environment and their well-being. You could also introduce a carpooling incentive which is often welcomed by employees too.

9. Be Aware of Government and Regulatory Compliance

Stay informed about evolving environmental regulations and ensure your operations are compliant. Compliance not only avoids penalties but also contributes to a cleaner environment by following standards set out by the EPA and Environment Canada.

10. Invest in Research and Development

Invest in research and development to discover new, more sustainable materials and processes. Innovations in green technologies can help your industry become more environmentally friendly. Join industry networks and collaborate with peers to share best practices for reducing industrial carbon emissions.

11. Integrate Sustainable Design and Innovation

Incorporate sustainability into your product design and innovation processes. By creating more eco-friendly products, processes, and packaging you can reduce emissions throughout the product lifecycle, from manufacturing to disposal. Use lean manufacturing practices to minimize waste and streamline processes. By optimizing your operations, you can reduce energy consumption, raw material waste, and emissions.

Challenges and Solutions in Industrial Carbon Reduction

Reducing industrial carbon emissions in manufacturing is not without its challenges. Transitioning to renewable energy sources may require significant initial investments while improving energy efficiency often necessitates retrofitting existing facilities. Supply chain optimization can be complex and finding suppliers who participate in green activities while providing quality products may be difficult. Additionally, waste reduction initiatives may require whole changes in production processes.

However, each challenge presents an opportunity. Investments in sustainability, such as renewable energy installations, not only reduce emissions but also yield long-term cost savings. Energy-efficient upgrades can enhance productivity while decreasing operational costs. Supply chain optimization can lead to stronger partnerships and more resilient, sustainable supply networks.

CleanPlanet's Technological Edge

As you embark on your journey to reduce industrial carbon emissions in the manufacturing sector, technology plays a pivotal role. CleanPlanet’s innovative solutions can be a game-changer for your sustainability efforts. Our AlwaysClean solvent recyclers not only use the most advanced solvent recovery technology on the market but are also available at no capital expense. That means you get an instant reduction in your bottom line, while also making your production process more sustainable. Our closed-loop solvent recovery system not only extends the lifecycle of solvents but also minimizes volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional solvent recovery or disposal methods.

CleanPlanet’s AlwaysClean solvent recyclers employ patented PrecisionDistillation technology to yield up to 95% of available solvent from feed streams. This efficiency reduces reliance on virgin solvent makeup which eliminates transportation-related emissions and waste processing emissions, providing a positive impact on your Scope 1 and 3 emissions. As a result, businesses not only save costs by reducing their dependence on expensive virgin solvents but also contribute to a more sustainable environment by mitigating GHGs.

CleanPlanet’s AlwaysClean solvent recyclers come accompanied with the MyCleanPlanet portal—a real-time monitoring platform that provides data on solvent recovery yield, waste production, energy consumption, GHG emissions reduction, and more. This visibility allows manufacturers to precisely track and report their environmental impact, providing concrete data to support their sustainability efforts. Your commitment to sustainability isn’t just good for the planet; it’s also a competitive advantage that resonates with customers and investors alike.

A Greener Industrial Future

Reducing industrial carbon emissions is no longer a choice but a necessity in the face of climate change. CleanPlanet’s solvent recovery technology, as well as these additional strategies, offer a comprehensive approach to achieving sustainability goals. By embracing innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to sustainability, industries can pave the way for a greener, more sustainable future, while simultaneously benefiting their bottom lines.

In the pursuit of carbon neutrality and a healthier planet, industries have a pivotal role to play. By integrating these strategies, you can significantly reduce your industrial carbon emissions footprint and contribute to a more sustainable industrial landscape.

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