Waste is a resource which is not being used correctly. Often greater value can be achieved through improved management of production costs and resource used as opposed to increased sales. The circular economy eliminates the concept of waste and recognises that everything has a value.  This includes looking at waste as the underutilisation of resources. Circular supply chain:  Introduces fully...

Lean is Green or to be more precise Green is Lean and Sustainable. In developing a successful Lean/Green culture, understanding the different business processes and their whole of life impact is very important. How do these processes impact the business? How do business processes affect each other? What can we improve? What will the benefits...

Up to 80 Percent funding is available to Enterprise Ireland and Industrial Development Authority clients  to fund GreenStart projects and 50 Percent funding for GreenPlus projects. GreenStart/Greenplus is not just for manufacturing companies!  Software and internationally traded services companies can avail of funding to learn about and implement environmental improvements to their business. Companies can...

When is a waste not a waste? Or better still why is a waste a waste? “A waste is a resource from which value has not been optimised – products, process, people  = €, £, $.” A circular economy can help achieve these targets, save money and reduces pressure on the environment.  However, significant barriers...

ECOS has been working with a manufacturing business since 2012 when we saved them €100,000 capital expenditure and €25,000 annual operational costs through optimising their use of a water resource. Through modification of a production process a waste stream was reduced by in excess of 90% , negating the need for on-site treatment. Additional savings...

ECOS helps our clients to save costs or increase value within their business. Think of the following:  Cost of Prevention versus Cost of Failure Lean Management Principles Optimise your Products, Processes and People Environmental management as a just another business tool to make your business more efficient/effective and provide competitive advantage ECOS works with SME...

End of Waste – sounds like a call to action at a rally and maybe it should be. Directive 2008/98/EC sets the basic concepts and definitions related to waste management, such as definitions of waste, recycling, recovery. It also explains When waste ceases to be waste and becomes a secondary raw material (so called end-of-waste criteria)...

IDA Ireland, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland is providing a Lean/Green Business Offer to their client companies.  IDA is keen to support its client companies to develop their operations in Ireland and to introduce good environment management practices. This business offer is designed to encourage clients to adopt Lean/Green business principles to increase performance and...

Supply chain strategy is now a bridge between competitive strategy and sustainability.  Establishing the correct strategy can start with social, economic and ecological factors such as energy and waste consumption, waste, human rights, labours, carbon output, all of which directly influence: Products Customers Competitors Regulations Suppliers Employees Investors An assessment of how social, economic and ecological factors...

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has presented a methodological approach which can help identify and prioritise circular efforts that can contribute to reducing emissions in any sector.  For example –  reducing the use of concrete, cement and steel in the building sector can cut materials-related greenhouse gas emissions by 61% over a building’s life cycle stages...