Climate Change

How to select a standout sustainability team

Dr Barbara Nebel, CEO, thinkstep-anz Keen to make progress on your sustainability programme? Enlist the right team! Our clients – large and small – often ask us whom to shoulder-tap when they set up their in-house sustainability team. Our answer sometimes surprises them. Yes, their team members’ skills and networks are important. But how their people think and what they value matter too. Our thinkstep-anz sustainability professionals are a good example. Our almost fifty-strong team come from many different backgrounds including product design, economics, engineering, science, law, and journalism. Their careers span many sectors and industries. What do they have in common? How they think and what they value. Pick people who see the ‘big picture’ Your sustainability programme should be part of your business strategy. So involve team members who see the ‘big picture’. Make sure they understand that becoming a more sustainable manufacturing business is about more than ‘saving the planet’ (critical though this is). It’s about future-proofing your business. A well-run sustainability programme will keep your supply chain cranking along, reduce the waste you create, keep your customers loyal, and attract talent in a tight labour market. Big-picture thinkers offer other skills too. They understand trade-offs and can set priorities. They’ll help you focus your sustainability effort so you have the greatest impact. Pick ‘systems thinkers’ Sustainability is about systems. Change one thing and you’ll change another. Pic credit: Andrew Moca on unsplash. Why does this matter? Because you want your sustainability programme to succeed. For example, before you redesign your product to use lower-carbon materials, you need to be confident you’re not adding to your waste. (Waste can emit carbon too.) Team members who see your products and business as connected ‘systems’ can identify potential issues like these. The good news? Manufacturing businesses are full […]

Kayasand receives backing from NZGIF to reduce carbon emissions from concrete

Kayasand, a distributor of premium sand manufacturing technology, is opening its first V7 high-technology manufacturing demonstration plant in New Zealand, which uses waste products such as recycled glass, concrete and slag, and turns them into premium sand for concrete. Kayasand has received the backing of New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF) via a $3.5 million equity investment. The green investment bank was established to accelerate investment that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A further $1.8 million of private investment has been secured alongside the NZGIF investment bringing the total raise to $5.3 million. Natural sand supplies are becoming harder to access and traditional concrete manufacturing processes, including the impacts of sand dredging on coastlines such as Pakiri, 100km north of Auckland, are not sustainable over the longer-term. Dr Bram Smith, Kayasand General Manager, says “Our technology can reduce or in cases eliminates the need for natural sand dredging. It uses by-products and recycled materials such as quarry crusher dust and recycled glass to manufacture a sand of such quality that it makes stronger concrete than natural sand when mixed with cement. Our goal is to reduce carbon emissions from concrete production by up to 20% using this method.” Kayasand technology is used in over 300 plants across Japan, China, India, and Australia. The picture shows a V7 plant in Japan. NZGIF Chief Executive, Craig Weise, says the deal is an important step and is a boost for the construction sector and consumers who are eagerly looking for more sustainable building materials. He says, “Auckland’s infrastructure requirements alone are projected to be $26 billion over the next decade and if New Zealand is going to meet its CO2 emission reduction targets, we need to find alternative manufacturing and building methods. We are delighted to invest in Kayasand to help deliver its […]

Battery power plus product stewardship for a brighter future

By Dominic Salmon, 3R Group Business Development – Sustainable Solutions The transition away from fossil fuels will rely heavily on large batteries – it’s estimated that EVs and stationary energy storage batteries can enable 30% of the emissions reduction needed in the transport and energy sectors. The conversation can often steer towards electric vehicles, but large stationary batteries are just as important. Large batteries are not yet widely used in New Zealand outside of EVs and hybrid vehicles. However, the potential applications for stationery storage are huge. These range from use in homes to store excess solar power, to national power grid stabilisation, upgrading old, inefficient battery systems and even as back up for key infrastructure in the event of natural disasters such as Cyclone Gabrielle. The range of stakeholders in this area is wide, from EV and home solar system owners (and potential owners) to energy generation companies, vehicle and battery importers, recyclers and, well, just about anyone who has energy needs. Like all solutions though, thought needs to go into preventing unintended consequences. In the case of batteries, it’s ensuring they are ethically and sustainably produced and don’t become a problematic waste stream at end of life. While small markets like New Zealand, which don’t mine the minerals or manufacture large batteries, can’t have a direct impact on their production, we can ensure they are used as efficiently as possible. Importers, retailers and consumers can also use tools like the Global Battery Alliance’s battery passport to track battery health and environmental impact and create demand for ethically and sustainably manufactured batteries. Making this transition obviously isn’t straight forward but there is a significant amount of work being done, including in Aotearoa New Zealand by the Battery Industry Group (B.I.G). Batteries in the Land of the Long White Cloud […]

Mitigate or adapt? With climate change it’s both

If you’re dealing with the aftermath of the weather events, as many are, we wish you well. Adapting to climate change. Since the disastrous weather earlier this year, it’s a term we’ve heard regularly in the mainstream media. What does adapting involve? Why does it matter? As a manufacturer, do you need to keep reducing (mitigating) climate change as well as adapting to it? (The answer to that last question: an emphatic yes!) This article explains why mitigating and adapting to climate change must go hand-in-hand for New Zealand manufacturers. But first, the science Let’s start with the global picture. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is adamant: a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures over pre-industrial levels will adversely affect the world’s climate. A 2°C increase will be more serious still. The cause of this warming? Greenhouse gases (GHGs). Zoom in to Aotearoa New Zealand. Scientists at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and University of Waikato are convinced that Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastating rainfall is an example of climate change. The cause? Global warming, due to GHGs, increases air temperatures. Warmer air holds much more water vapour. When this vapour cools, it rains. Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema on unsplash. What does mitigating climate change involve? Think of mitigation as the fence at the top of the cliff. Mitigation is about addressing the causes of climate change by reducing the GHGs we emit. If you’re a manufacturer, it could involve reducing the carbon in your products or moving your factory to renewable electricity. To date, governments and businesses have focussed on mitigation – with good reason. We all benefit when we reduce climate change. What does adapting to climate change involve? If mitigation is the fence, adaptation is the ambulance. With a poorly maintained fence (an atmosphere damaged by […]

Net-zero steel in building and construction: The way forward

By popular demand – from industries and industry organisations Trans – Tasman- NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz brings you an industry expert article on reducing emissions in the steel industry. Rising demand for greener approaches creates an imperative for the industry to seize the moment, adopt new mindsets, and set standards for the transition to a greener future. As the world transitions to lower greenhouse-gas emissions, construction companies have a major role to play. The green buildings of the future are a chance to tap into demand that spans geographies and architectures. Indeed, greener business models are potential magnets for trillions of dollars earmarked for sustainable investment. In addition, companies that adapt effectively will ensure they are aligned with an increasingly stringent regulatory agenda. The decisions made by construction executives now will determine how they are positioned for the transition over the coming decade. Those that prepare astutely are likely to seek out emerging pockets of innovation and dial up investment in sustainable technologies and capabilities. Green steel,a new material is more expensive, and will therefore demand a new pricing model. However, significantly reducing embodied carbon in commercial buildings by as much as 70 percent by 2030. Amid tight industry margins, a priority for decision makers will be to ensure that there is a solid business case for change. The key in that regard will be to establish market position, while adjusting to a new cost base. They must also ensure that greener business models are aligned with demand that will rise at an uncertain pace over time. A tricky calculation is required, but the prize is a chance to get ahead in a market that is set for a potentially rewarding future. Construction industry emissions From houses to bridges, hospitals, and skyscrapers, the construction industry is responsible for approximately 25 […]

Battery-recycling-on-pallet-Photog-Journey-by-Story

Circular economy: so much more than recycling!

Article: Part one The circle has been an important symbol since early times. To many ancient Eastern and Western civilisations, it represented unity, balance and stability. Fast forward to 2023 and the circle is the most talked about shape in sustainability. Why? Because it’s time to get serious about the circular economy and the business, environmental and social benefits it offers. What is ‘circular economy’? Circular economy (CE) is an economic system that can help your manufacturing business reduce risks and costs, become more resilient and build your brand. It can also help you identify new income streams. CE decouples using resources from economic growth. It recognises that the ‘linear’ economic system we use to produce and consume goods and services – ‘take-make-dispose’ – cannot go on forever. As manufacturers, you know that the resources you use are finite (‘take’). You may be facing shortages or skyrocketing prices, particularly with critical materials like lithium. Many of you will be looking for a more sustainable way to manufacture your product (‘make’). You may be concerned about what happens when consumers dispose of your product (‘dispose’). Are you contributing to landfilled waste? Could you be liable? Enter circular economy and solutions to these problems. Circular economy is based on three principles Principle 1: keep products and materials in use Circulating products and materials means keeping them in use at their highest value. It avoids the costs of extracting and creating materials, and of disposing of waste. A circular product is one that consumers can use for as long as possible (e.g. it is easy to repair). When the product wears out, its parts can be reused, or the product remanufactured (remade). At the end of the product’s life, its raw materials can be fully recycled. Principle 2: design out waste and pollution […]

Net-zero steel in building and construction: The way forward

As the world transitions to lower greenhouse-gas emissions, construction companies have a major role to play. In making the green buildings of the future, they have a chance to tap into demand that spans geographies and architectures. Indeed, greener business models are potential magnets for trillions of dollars earmarked for sustainable investment. In addition, companies that adapt effectively will ensure they are aligned with an increasingly stringent regulatory agenda. The decisions made by construction executives now will determine how they are positioned for the transition over the coming decade. Those that prepare astutely are likely to seek out emerging pockets of innovation and dial up investment in sustainable technologies and capabilities. To be sure, new materials such as green steel are more expensive, and will therefore demand a new pricing model. However, they can significantly reduce embodied carbon—in commercial buildings by as much as 70 percent by 2030. Amid tight industry margins, a priority for decision makers will be to ensure that there is a solid business case for change. The key in that regard will be to establish market position, while adjusting to a new cost base. They must also ensure that greener business models are aligned with demand that will rise at an uncertain pace over time. A tricky calculation is required, but the prize is a chance to get ahead in a market that is set for a potentially rewarding future. Construction industry emissions From houses to bridges, hospitals, and skyscrapers, the construction industry is responsible for approximately 25 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions. A third of these are associated with materials and the construction process, or so-called “embodied carbon.” One reason for the industry’s high emissions is that it is a voracious consumer of steel, accounting for more than 50 percent of global demand.2Due to the energy required for its […]

Decarbonising steelmaking

This article, one of many NZ Manufacturer will be sharing on the subject, comes as a result of conversations with companies in the steel industry who require information on decarbonising steel and steelmaking. Seventy five percent of steel is made from high-emissions plants Nearly three-quarters of crude steel today is made from iron ore in blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) plants. These plants release carbon when coking coal is burned and used as a reducing agent. One key decarbonisation action could be to replace blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces fed by scrap and/or H2-DRI; powering EAFs with 100 percent carbon-neutral electricity would eliminate energy-related emissions. Moving to low-emissions production would require $4.4 trillion spending over the next 30 years, with the top end spend coming between 2030 and 2040. In this scenario, three-quarters of investment will likely be on new hydrogen-powered DRI-EAF plants, and the rest to equip existing BF-BOF plants with CCS. Thirty percent increase in unit production costs for steel Costs for steel in the net-zero scenario could increase because of up-front capital spending and higher operating costs associated with CCS and hydrogen-based DRI-EAF production. Market opportunities The shift toward net-zero steel production would likely depend on a collaborative effort among regulators, governments, and industry stakeholders to change the economics of production, facilitate access to required capital, and stimulate demand. First movers that manage the transition risks well stand to gain the most. Sixty five percent of steel will come from plants with electric arc furnaces in 2050 and there will be a ten percent increase in global demand for steel compared with today. Getting all the way to net-zero steel Recent developments in regulations, along with commitment among some governments to reduce CO₂ emissions, have led many steelmakers to set high decarbonisation goals in coming years. While […]

Where to for sustainability in an economic downturn?

-Dr. Barbara Nebel, CEO, thinkstep-anz Is sustainability a ‘fair weather friend’ in your manufacturing business? Do you see it as something to cut back when recession calls? If so, you’re missing a business opportunity. Building a more environmentally and socially sustainable business can make your business more efficient and resilient and help you weather the storms ahead. The New Zealand government is forecasting a recession in 2023. This is difficult news for manufacturers already challenged by creaky supply chains and a tight market for skills. Make the most of the many opportunities sustainability offers. Business benefit: reduce your costs Understand your environmental impacts – and reduce them Everything that goes into making your product has an environmental footprint – and a dollar cost. Start by understanding your footprint. A Product Carbon Footprint study measures the carbon your products generate. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) considers other impacts too, including the water you use and the waste you generate. Food manufacturer Comvita’s LCA NZ Manufacturer October 2022 by Media Hawkes Bay Limited – Issuu will help the business understand the environmental impacts of its ‘honey in a pot’, from growing the mānuka forests the bees feed on to disposing of the honey’s empty packaging. Armed with information about your environmental impacts, look at whether you can cut some costs. Can you reduce the amount of energy you use? Use raw materials more efficiently? Cut the waste you generate and the costs of disposing of it? The beauty of LCA is that it shows trade-offs. It will help you understand how tweaking one aspect of your product (e.g. the energy you use) affects other aspects (e.g the waste you generate). Buy responsibly Purchasing goods and services produced in environmentally and socially responsible ways can save you money. For example, buying from local […]

New research to develop first overarching data connectivity standardisation

-Dr Troy Coyle, CEO, HERA Last month I shared the news of the Endeavour Fund’s support for HERA’s four-year research project focused on transforming the construction sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. Today, I wanted to introduce the key research themes and programs which will interact and interconnect as part of the overarching research. The wider program will develop New Zealand’s first standardisation infrastructure for vertical integration of construction participants’ systems, as well as horizontal integration of the value chain and collaborative networks. Key programs: Circular Design: Using Construction 4.0 enabled data to identify target areas for optimisation and creating a better design. The hypothesis is that structural synthesis system can fulfil optimisation requirements, in which a cost/environmental impact function is minimised considering constraints on design and manufacturability. Smart Construction: Investigating intrinsic properties and invariant signatures of construction objects, such as footings, slabs, and beams , as well as their synergistic structural performance, to create a new end-to-end computational platform for design and manufacture. Monitoring 4.0: Developing a framework for objective/improved monitoring and performance assessment of structural systems using in-situ data and numerical models, as well as optimal instrumentation plans to maximise the information gain while limiting cost. Key themes: Mātauranga Māori and Construction 4.0: Addressing the gap of knowledge by building a uniquely Māori framework. This will create new knowledge domestically and be an international example of indigenous knowledge. As no Construction 4.0 framework currently exists, this is an exciting opportunity to build in Mātauranga Māori from the onset. Construction 4.0 Technology Transfer: Developing an alternative to traditional linear knowledge/technology transfer in New Zealand construction. This new approach will draw on the principles of co-creating value and models for knowledge flows in innovation ecosystems, including regulatory governance models and related policy by and for the sector. Sustainable Future: Adapt and extend […]

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