Manufacturing and supply chain management are two areas where the industry is on a trend towards better efficiency through technology and efficiency is good for the planet- even if it's just a side effect of trying to reduce cost. I think this trend opens up huge opportunities to reduce the negative environmental impact of traditional business practices. Less waste means fewer resources used; more efficient shipping means fewer carbon emissions. When the innovators of these types of technologies focus just a little on things like resource usage, toxins and carbon emissions the benefits can not only save money, but also "save the planet" on some scale. Imagine if there were innovators out there who were a LOT focused on these areas? We would surely see some great things. Turns out there is a great competition going on to promote just those kind of people out there creating just that kind of technology! It's the Think Beyond Plastic Innovation Competition, with great investment opportunities for the winners and they are accepting applications through March with judging in June. Check it out, and if you know someone who has a great idea sitting around maybe they will take you along to CA when they make it to the finals ;)
My friend had an idea of recycling metals, etc. at Caterpillar in Joliet which not only eliminated this reusable waste from going into a landfill, but created an entire new department for waste management at the plant.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that everyone should be thinking about. The main app that my company is made/making goal is to reduce printing of company catalogs and make them all eCatalogs. It's saves them money and the planet.
ReplyDeleteI would love some examples of what companies and what exactly they are doing to accomplish this. I also work for a company that sends out catalogs, even though they have an eCommerce website, they still send out those huge catalogs. The company has been working on their search engines so hopefully one day they can stop sending those out.
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