From trash to raw materials

Technology is not a destiny. We are the smartest beings on the planet and if we do not like what we can see of the future, there is still time to change it. Hazardous waste is the inevitable byproduct of industrial development. These wastes can be unhealthy both for people and the environmental. The future of all living things depends on how we relate to the Earth and how we use materials. What we do know of material flows in our global and national economy shows both crisis and promise. On the crisis side, our exponentially increasing use of materials is challenging the capacity of the Earth. On the promise side, we are beginning to practice lifecycle management and learning how to reduce the materials that run through our economy.

It has been said that one man's trash is another man's treasure.  It is possible for companies to turn their trash into their own treasure. Disruptive technologies are often born through repurposing. Whether it is reuse of existing buildings or waste re-envisioning, innovating on top of excess makes sense. Every manufacturing process creates something that by default creates waste. Using waste instead of trashing it can cut costs by reducing disposal fees, at the very least. The greatest returns are realized when companies broaden their scope to include a joint production process and start thinking about how to use resources to produce value.

Synergies can lead to reduced disposal costs, reduced raw material costs, improved efficiency, and income from new “products” Byproduct synergy (BPS) takes the waste stream from one production process and uses that to make a new product. BPS makes sustainable development tangible for companies and other organizations, and is a sound greenhouse gas emission reduction strategy. Taking "wastes" from one company and using them as raw materials for another means industry can turn a negative into a positive for both the environment and for shareholders. Looked at this way, the glass that was half empty can suddenly seem half full. The challenge is finding a way to fill it to the top.