As we look forward, for the second year running, to attending ReThink 2024, an annual event that showcases sustainable innovation and solutions, we looked at waste in a series of articles supported by infographics.
Earlier, we wrote about food waste, which, the more we dug, the more we discovered and learnt about the global crisis that is food wastage.
The disgust we had at the sheer volume of food wasted at the household level was tempered slightly by the very real impact smart food bio-waste machines, for example, are having in public housing estates around Hong Kong. There are many initiatives and efforts being made to reduce food waste.
This time, we researched how much material waste there is in the manufacturing industry. We wanted to understand how much is disposed of by industry, having written about the household penchant for throwing dizzying levels of food waste away.
Just a heads up. The industry sector is producing items for mass consumption, which means higher volumes of waste at the point of manufacturing and through the product cycle. This is a work in progress. There are others such as agriculture, energy, cosmetics, hospitality, jewellery, and more.
For goods and products to reach retail, industrial processes require many steps, all of which will leave a trail of waste behind. The steps for gold mining are a perfect example:
Exploration and Surveying - Land Clearing and Overburden Removal - Drilling and Blasting - Excavation and Loading - Transportation - Processing - Gold Refining
Aerospace Manufacturing
The aerospace sector generates considerable waste, particularly from composite materials and metals. It is estimated that around 20% of raw materials can become scrap during the manufacturing of aircraft components. The high precision required in aerospace manufacturing means that even minor defects can lead to significant material loss.
Beverage Manufacturing
The beverage industry produces significant waste, particularly in the form of packaging and by-products. For example, the production of beer generates waste such as spent grains, while packaging waste remains a major concern, with a significant percentage of bottles and cans ending up in landfills.
Chemical Manufacturing
Chemical production often results in significant waste due to process inefficiencies and the handling of hazardous materials. It is estimated that chemical manufacturing can generate up to 30% waste by weight during production. This includes excess raw materials, by-products, and waste from cleaning processes. Implementing better process controls and recycling can reduce waste significantly.
Construction
The construction industry is notorious for material wastage, with estimates suggesting that up to 13% of materials delivered to sites end up as waste. This sector handles about 50% of all natural resource extraction globally. Inefficient handling, storage, and usage of materials contribute to substantial waste, inflating project costs and leading to environmental degradation.
Electronics Manufacturing
The electronics sector produces a significant amount of waste, particularly from defective components and excess production. The rapid pace of technological change leads to obsolescence, resulting in electronic waste (e-waste) that is often difficult to recycle.
Food Manufacturing
This generates a considerable amount of waste, primarily in the form of inedible food and by-products and is estimated that more than two-thirds of manufacturing waste comes from biological sources, including food waste.
Furniture Manufacturing
The furniture industry often generates waste through off-cuts and defective products. It is estimated that around 15% of wood used in furniture production is wasted.
Heavy Engineering and Equipment Manufacturing
This sector often faces high material costs, with metals and composites being expensive. Material wastage arises from inefficiencies in production processes, outdated machinery, and improper handling.
Paper and Pulp Manufacturing
The paper industry is known for high levels of waste, particularly for raw materials and production processes. Approximately 40% of the wood used in paper production becomes waste, including bark, sawdust, and defective sheets.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Pharmaceutical production can lead to waste from raw materials, packaging, and by-products. Approximately 10% to 20% of raw materials can be discarded due to inefficiencies in the production process. Expired or unused medications contribute to waste in this sector, prompting the need for better inventory management and recycling programs.
Plastics and Chemical Manufacturing
This sector generates vast amounts of plastic waste, with only 14% of plastic packaging being collected for recycling. The production processes for plastics and chemicals can be resource intensive, leading to significant waste.
Textile Manufacturing
The textile industry is another major contributor to material wastage, with significant amounts of fabric discarded during production. Estimates suggest that around 15% to 20% of raw materials are wasted, leading to substantial economic losses.
Material wastage is a critical issue across various manufacturing sectors, with each contributing to environmental challenges and economic losses.
It's worth noting that before modern processes, rules and regulations, advanced production techniques and advancements, technologies, the material wastage situation was far worse.
Here's a recap infographic with additional details added. Check out all our infographics at our Pinterest page under Eight PR.
About Eight Insights
Eight Insights is a dedicated blog site and is owned by Eight Public Relations, a power PR agency in Hong Kong. Being separate to the company blog page means we can write about areas of interest outside of public relations, enabling better curation and organisation.
About Ivan Theodoulou
Ivan Theodoulou is founder of Eight PR, a PR agency in Hong Kong that specializes in tech, law, and corporate PR. He first visited China in 1987 by train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou and has since traveled extensively on the mainland and in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). Ivan passed his China driving test in March 2024 and now drives regularly in the GBA.
Places visited in China (by car, plane, train, high speed train, ferry, coach, bus) include: Beijing, Beijou, Chengdu, Dali, Daya Bay, Dongguan, Foshan, Ganzhou, Gaoming, Guangzhou, Hainan, Hailing Island, Heishan, Huizhou, Junan, Kunming, Lijang, Longjiang, Nanhai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Shilin Yi, Shunde, Wuzhou, Xiamen, Yingde, Yinghe, Zhuhai, Zhaoqing.
Sources:
https://beyzonfoodtek.com/sustainable-solutions-to-reducing-waste-in-the-food-manufacturing-industry/
https://contec.tech/waste-reduction-in-manufacturing/
https://drawdown.org/sectors/industry
https://elegrow.com/why-material-wastage-optimisation-is-very-important-for-any-heavy-engineering-and-equipment-manufacturing-industry/
https://getonspace.com/articles/construction/reducing-construction-waste/
https://matics.live/glossary/manufacturing-waste/
https://theintelligentminer.com/2022/03/16/mining-metals-recycling-an-integrated-approach-to-critical-minerals/
https://www.epa.gov/trinationalanalysis/manufacturing-waste-management-trend
https://www.recycling-magazine.com/2024/08/07/how-the-manufacturing-sector-is-tackling-waste/
https://www.unilever.com/sustainability/responsible-business/tackling-manufacturing-waste/
https://www.unleashedsoftware.com/blog/7-types-of-manufacturing-wastes-and-how-to-reduce-them
https://www.wastemanaged.co.uk/our-news/industrial/manufacturing-waste-guide/