Lean was originally created by Toyota to eliminate waste and inefficiency in its manufacturing operations.  The process became so successful that it has been embraced in manufacturing sectors around the world. The goal of lean is to eliminate waste – the non-value-added components in any process or service. By its very nature Lean utilises the...

Ireland, Europe, US, Australia and others have for a long time been dependent on China to take the poor quality plastic that they collect and do not have the infrastructure or capacity to use themselves. As of January 2018 China has decided it does not want the low value plastics Until more recycling plants are...

Lean project delivery has entered the mainstream of construction, yet Lean adoption lags among design professionals.  Architects and engineers who transformed the industry by first pioneering sustainable design and later the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM), remain spectators while trade partners, construction managers, and some owners embrace Lean.  As more owners expect and demand Lean, the...

It is understood the National Development Plan will see an investment of €115 billion in the country’s infrastructure over the next ten years.  The plan was discussed in detail at a Cabinet meeting last week. It will be backed by Exchequer funding to the tune of €90bn and a further €25bn will come from commercial...

The Environmental Protections agency (EPA) has launched the National Waste Statistics web resource and has also published information on hazardous waste for 2015 and 2016 and municipal waste for 2014.  The new web resource replaces the EPA’s biennial National Waste Report as the primary source of waste statistics in Ireland.  The EPA will regularly update National Waste Statistics,...

The first-ever Europe-wide plastics strategy, adopted today, is a part of the transition towards a more circular economy. It will protect the environment from plastic pollution whilst fostering growth and innovation, turning a challenge into a positive agenda for the Future of Europe. There is a strong business case for transforming the way products are designed, produced,...

Environmental management has a raft of legislation associated with it covering air emissions water, waste water, integrated pollution control now known as industrial emissions. Environmental management has significant implications for business in terms of legal compliance, cost and technical measures to be implemented. How you address environmental management can have a significant bearing on your business and profitability. There are...

GreenStart provides an introduction to environmental best practice and helps in the preparation of a formalised environmental management structure.  This can help your company achieve competitive advantage through greater resource efficiency (energy/water/waste costs) and greater market share through enhanced credentials in a short, focused engagement.  The initiative is designed for companies that are unfamiliar with...

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the measurement of the anticipated effects of a proposed project or development on the environment. The purpose of the EIA process is to ensure that: All projects that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment are assessed.  People are fully aware of the likely effects of the...

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a technique used to quantify the potential environmental impacts associated with a product or service throughout its life cycle.   Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are tools which enable transparent communication to stakeholders.  LCA and EPD present comparable information about the environmental impact of of products and...