Even if you're not a big advocate of the "green" movement in general, it's hard to argue about whether or not human beings need to do a better job of preserving our precious natural resources.So while we can debate how effective it is for people to skip using plastic water bottles, the scale is much larger for companies like It Straps On, Inc. who manufacture products. In the larger sense, the impact of recycling a few water bottles pales in comparison with the potential savings from making manufacturing a more "green" process.Practicing What We PreachHere at It Straps On, we take our commitment to the environment very seriously. ISO also is proud of our "green manufacturing" process that uses only natural materials such as air, heat and organic fluids, and we make every effort to recycle the steel scraps from the production of our banding and strapping products.Recyclable Steel ScrapThe Root of Environmental ConcernsDepending on the type of manufacturing being done, the potential environmental impact can vary widely. Everything from steel production to saw mills produce tons of finished products every year along with countless pounds of waste or by-product.Additionally, long before steel or timber ever shows up to the mill, they are part of a process that involves mining nature for materials. Then, once the process begins in a saw mill for example, there is no shortage of operations that produce all sorts of runoff and other byproducts that need to be disposed of.Measures Taken to Address ThemMost attempts to address these problems have come from the governments in charge of the countries where the manufacturing occurs. As such, the environmental movement's effects have been different (or sometimes non-existent) all over the world.For the most part, the standard approach is regulating what businesses can or cannot do. Many governments create laws that stipulate how a manufacturer can dispose of waste products.Releasing By-Products or WasteFor example, wastewater usually can't just be released into surrounding bodies of water. Even when that water is merely heated for production purposes, that added temperature can have profound effects on the environment subjected to it.Harvesting Raw MaterialsOf course, manufacturers don't have waste without a beginning product. Another example of the environmental movements' effects on manufacturing, therefore, are laws that dictate what companies must do if they are harvesting raw materials. So a business that cut down trees for timber might be legally compelled to replant a certain amount each time.Cutting Down On EmissionsMuch like waste products, modern manufacturing also creates a host of emissions. You have probably seen manufacturing plants that have at least a couple smokestacks pumping out various gasses. Many laws demand that certain screens or filters are used to moderate what the environment is being subjected to. Other times, a company is simply expected to pay for the "right" to dispose of a certain amount of these gasses. That money, then, is generally used by the government to help the environment.Who Bears The Resulting Costs?While most people would agree it's important to protect the environment, these regulations ultimately create unintended byproducts of their own in the form of higher costs. Obviously, the aforementioned methods of dealing with potential environmental risks are not implemented for free, and these costs are ultimately passed on to the end consumer. Although some governments may provide subsidies for businesses willing to comply, most companies must simply view these regulations as the cost of doing business. Often that cost is passed onto the consumer.Going Beyond Government RegulationThere are other ways the environmental movement has worked to address their concerns with manufacturing. Instead of appealing to their governments, many in the environmental movement have instead appealed to people's sense of doing what is right and taking to the court of public opinion.As such, countless foundations and non-profit organizations now exist to help the public make more informed decisions when it comes to the products they buy. While this often pressures a manufacturer into following more expensive procedures, there is a passionate market willing to pay more for the environmentally friendly method.An increased concern for the environment has brought about numerous approaches to dealing with how our modern lives affect the world around us. The environmental movement has been at the forefront of these concerns, which generally result in government regulations. While they may have a positive outcome for the environment, manufacturers need to be aware how they will be affected as well.Additional Reading Source: http://www3.niu.edu/~c90mdk1/ems/environmental.htm#e14
