Production (New)
In pursuing their corporate sustainability journeys, manufacturers examine every aspect of their operations to minimise environmental impact. Individually they are continuously measuring and stating their company’s progress to net zero.
Elements include:
Eco-design, Production Materials, Manufacturing Efficiency, Packaging and Transport
Eco design
Modern appliance development is driven by eco-design, with sustainability and performance going hand-in-hand. When designing products AMDEA Members focus on both reducing environmental impact and improving energy efficiency, to cut greenhouse gas emissions. They do this by investing generously in research and development, always aiming to exceed regulatory standards. Significant progress has been made in incorporating recycled materials, as well as developing smart technology which permits remote diagnostics, provides early alerts to any faults and even prompts households on wiser usage.
Production materials
To provide sustainable appliances which progress the path to net zero, the industry has increased its use of recyclable metals and plastics. Major efforts are under way to use plastics of the same type in an appliance to facilitate recycling. Manufacturers have also developed ingenious ways to use recycled materials, especially plastics, upcycling an array of waste products to create appliances of the future.
Packaging – the amount and type – has also been a focus for action. Manufacturers are minimising volume and increasing recyclability. Removing polystyrene and other plastics and ensuring these are replaced with recyclable materials.
Manufacturing efficiency
AMDEA Members have been prioritising the environmental impact of their manufacturing processes for decades. The last 10 years alone has seen an overall 18% reduction in waste, 50% decrease in energy and 14% dropin water use.
Manufacturers have revolutionised their production sites to progressively reduce the impact of their processes. Among other methods, many manufacturers solely use green energy or electricity from sustainable sources. Sites are successfully adopting ‘zero waste to landfill’ policies and reusing process water.
Industry is Consuming Less in Production
Over the last 10 years alone we have seen the following reductions during the production process
Waste
-18%
Energy
-50%
Water
-14%
Packaging
Our members always go beyond regulations to improve the packaging they use. This applies to materials being supplied to factories as well as the finished products as they arrive in homes across the UK. Members now use recyclable boxes and minimise plastics and polystyrene. Some have already achieved 100% recyclable packaging and others are even recycling packaging into re-usable materials.
In compliance with EPR regulations, all eligible Members record and report data on their packaging and its recycling. Based on these they will also finance the relevant waste management costs.
Transport
As transport in all its forms accounts for about 23% of global CO2 emissions, the appliance industry sets great store on its efforts to minimise impacts from the movement of goods.
Consequently, transport logistics is another area on which the industry has focussed. Manufacturers have, for example, been successful in reducing the amount of road transport, opting instead for rail and sea routes. Others deploy specialist programmes which optimise freight movements for space.
Manufacturers also work work to influence suppliers’ transport choices, make changes to vehicles used on site to lessen CO2 emissions, supply EV vehicles to service engineers and encourage employees to use eco-friendly ways to get to work by subsidising public transport costs and supplying charging points for cars and bicycles.
Sustainability (new)
The industry has ensured vast reductions in energy and water consumption through design and new technology.
Leading the way (New)
AMDEA members and associates reveal how they are advancing the UK’s path to net zero.
Eco Performance in Use (New)
Today’s water and energy efficient appliances deployed wisely at home can help towards net zero.
Repair, Recycling & Recovery (New)
Appliances are designed to be durable, as well as being repairable and recyclable.
