Unfortunately, one of the largest sources of pollution in industry is chemical manufacturing. The byproducts of chemical manufacturing processes are often very harmful to humans, plants and animals. Once released, this pollution can keep affecting the environment for many decades into the future. However, if a strong effort is made to lower the risks of chemical manufacturing for both living things and the environment at large, this problem can be solved. Below are a few ways how.

Move Towards a Philosophy of Green Chemistry

Overall, one thing manufacturers should do is move towards a philosophy of “green chemistry.” This simply means being much more mindful of the effects chemicals can have on animals, people and ecosystems during every part of the chemical manufacturing process. The goal here is achieving sustainability and minimizing all environmental impacts. Doing so can also have other benefits as well. Increased efficiency in the production process leads to lower costs.

Do a Rethink of Your Entire Production Process

Overall, becoming greener means having to reexamine past decisions that weren’t viewed with ecological sustainability in mind. There are probably adjustments you can make to how you use chemicals that can both decrease environmental impact and increase efficiency. For example, many companies, like Powerblanket, know that improving the flow of viscous materials keep expensive chemicals from freezing. Such a design improvement can lessen the possibility of environmental contamination and save money related to waste simultaneously.

Consider Green Alternatives

Many companies in different industries simply use the same chemicals in their production processes that they have used for decades. Many of these chemicals will always be hazardous to the environment and living things. While attempts are made to store, handle and dispose of them properly, mistakes are still often made. Instead, you might want to start considering alternatives that won’t have the same kind of environmental impact. In fact, a nonprofit group, Clean Production Action, was set up specifically to help companies select less hazardous chemicals for their manufacturing processes.

Obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment

One way to determine what kind of impact your chemical manufacturing is having on the Earth is to have an environmental impact assessment performed by an independent third party. This can give you a clear view of exactly how your company affects the surrounding environment and what you can do to mitigate that impact.

Chemicals will still probably be a very important party of industrial manufacturing years into the future. However, that doesn’t mean the use of chemicals has to create pollution. Consider less hazardous alternatives, new technology and alterations to your production process that can make your company more environmentally friendly.