161 Sustainable manufacturing Circular business models, zero-waste and cradle-to-cradle approaches and industrial symbiosis are all aspects of a manufacturing mindset that supports sustainability. In addition, new technologies are helping manufacturers to streamline their processes and eliminate wasteful and damaging practices. From optimisation software to the IoT, AI and 3D printing, the possibilities available to organisations to leverage the green benefits of ‘Industry 4.0’ are impressive. However, the basic principles remain the same, no matter how high- or low-tech the practices adopted: minimise environmental damage; reduce energy consumption; design for low-to-no waste; and build in recycling and reuse from the start. Cabin products When specifying products for cabins on new passenger ships or for refits, designers are under pressure to meet a wide range of requirements for sustainability, from bathroom fittings that reduce water consumption to soft furnishings that do not cause indoor pollution or contain hazardous substances. A number of schemes, some of which were originally designed for the hotel sector but are often equally applicable in cruise or ferry vessels, can help narrow down the choices for cabins to the best green options. The European Bathroom Forum Scheme provides access to a database of bathroom products which, it says, “when installed and used correctly will use less water, save energy and save money.”1, while the EU Ecolabel vets bed mattresses to ensure high quality, long-lasting products and a reduction in hazardous substances.2 Clean the World partners with hotel properties to recycle their discarded soap and bottled amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion and body wash.3 Soap is made into new bars while bottles are either recycled or converted to energy. 1 Source: European Bathroom Forum, The Label 2 Source: European Commission, Bed Mattresses 3 Source: Clean the World, About us Sustainable sourcing checklist The EU sustainability body Interreg lists the following principles for sourcing materials: • Use smart, green materials that are renewable and recycled and are designed to have a lower environmental impact in manufacturing, use or disposal. Design for recyclability • Reduce the number of materials, components and parts through modularisation/standardisation. Design to reduce the number of materials required to create a product, with labelling to identify materials and reduced raw materials • Choose strong, long-lasting materials with reduced weight and size. Prioritise durable, indestructible structures that are shock-, water- and dustproof • Use clean materials that don’t contain hazardous substances and are safe in manufacturing and use. • Ensure that components feature low energy consumption throughout the life cycle • Adopt smart production techniques, reduce complexity and ensure supply chains are optimised. Source: Interreg, Product Sustainability Guide
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