Our core function is to provide trusted sustainability solutions and create a unique story of success out of each and every one of our projects, both for our clients and ourselves.
Ecobelt™ recognizes that conveyor belts are an essential part of everyday life, indeed the world would come to a standstill without them. When something is made, it has normally been conveyed. It is therefore essential to extend the life of conveyor belts for as long as possible and that is exactly what Ecobelt™ is all about. “Saving the Planet, One belt at a time”. Our vision and analysis demonstrate significant opportunities to make a real economic, environmental and societal difference for our clients.
REPORTING
Sustainability reporting must evolve beyond mere compliance and communication to embody a genuine exercise in transparency, strategic business planning, and acceleration of action on sustainability. Analizing your conveyor belt usage is a pivotal solution against environmental degradation and waste management challenges as well as realizing huge financial savings. It involves reducing, repairing and reusing belts to divert them from landfills and incinerators. This not only conserves valuable resources but also reduces the energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of virgin material.
Background
The manufacturing process of materials used in conveyor belts as well as the production of belts themselves consume huge natural resources whilst producing significant Greenhouse Gases (GHG) throughout all the stages from cradle to grave. Longer in use and Reuse will minimise materials use and waste, practice complete traceability and use new remanufacturing services.
Ecobelt’s consultancy program will deliver a scientifically accurate survey report of your current belting footprint. This will cover a range of pollution factors which outline exactly the ecotoxical effect on the planet of the belts you have on-site.
From this report, we can work with you to plan a range of actions to reduce the negative effect of your current belt use on the planets ecosystem. We ensure that you comply with current and developing legislation on belt use, making a real economic, environmental and societal difference for your company. This strategic alignment encourages a more sustainable business model that contributes actively to global efforts aimed at achieving a more sustainable future for all.
To ensure client confidentiality, all data produced in partnership with Ecobelt consultancy is held in the strictest of confidence and we invite clients to enter into an NDA, both for their protection and that of Ecobelt. Therefore there is no need to worry, no matter how disastrous your current situation is, the important thing is to take action now and make a start to improving in the knowledge that your data is held in confidence.
We are also very happy to announce collaborations, promote relationships and publish data in cooperation with clients especially specific stories of success.
Ecobelt through several collaborations have developed a unique patented software package which can calculate the ecotoxic footprint of any given belt type. This has been made possible due to the finding of a two year long Life Cycle Analysis [LCA] study commissioned by Ecobelt and conducted by Sustainable Innovative Materials Hub within the Henry Royce Institute. Our survey calculations follow the guidance of the GHG emissions protocol Accounting Standards
The UK Government Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), together with UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) national institute for materials research and innovation, have commissioned the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials (Royce) to establish a National Materials Innovation Strategy (NMIS).
Part of the NMIS strategy is specifically aimed at conveyor belts. Raising and highlighting awareness of the climate implications of the use of conveyor belts.
Most companies have never considered what the current footprint associated with conveyor belts is, let alone the ecological implications of their annual usage, with no credible plan of action to address the issue.
Conveyor belts are generally multi-material composites of single or multi-layer laminates. This makes them almost impossible to upcycle, downcycle or recycle. PVC/PU types are estimated to take in excess of 400 years to breakdown in landfill, not to mention the toxic implications of that process. Therefore, there is clearly a priority focus to address ‘Multi-laminate Plastic Material’ going to landfill. Conveyor Belting is right in the crosshairs of the governments targeted ‘Net Zero for 2050’ policy and Materials and manufacturing vision 2050 Innovate UK Materials and Manufacturing Vision 2050 (ukri.org)
We are delighted, humbled, honoured and privileged to be working with some of the worlds leading scientists from three different schools within the UoM on this amazing project. The project will cut across the above themes of circular economy, building a green future, climate change and sustainability, engineering design, manufacturing the future, and made smarter innovation. This project is the first study to apply life cycle assessment to provide broad environmental insight into strategies for the end-of-life treatment of PVC-based laminate materials.
This project will provide an evidence-based pathway to improving the fate of the product by estimating the environmental impacts of end-of-life options via life cycle assessment (LCA) of identified scenarios for the repurposing and repair of belts at the end of their lives. These will be modelled using LCA to establish their carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. Finally, data will be identified for potential emerging waste management options as foundations for follow-on collaboration. This project is a springboard for developing a longer relationship (KTP). The results of this project may help the exploitation and commercialization of the product by Ecobelt directing our future R&D efforts efficiently.
Benefits to the Ecobelt
Quantifying the potential environmental benefits of their products and strategies is of great marketing value. The data provided by this project will enable science-based avenues for product and service development which are lacking in our market, providing economic benefits by making Ecobelt the market leading sustainable/eco brand in the sector. Alignment with net zero policies and future stricter legislation on Conveyor Belts will also place them ahead of competitors.
Benefits to the University
This is a new inter-School and Department collaboration. The use of LCA for commercial waste management strategy is an emerging area, while LCA in the conveyor belt industry is, to our knowledge, entirely novel and will be developed for publication. The case study fits well with both Faculty (sustainable materials) and University (sustainable futures) research strategies.
If you are currently publishing any kind of sustainability or ESG report detailing your companies to ‘Carbon’ status and you have not taken into account your annual belt usage, you are in effect, “Greenwashing”.
No matter how unintentional or that another organisation produced a report on your behalf.
The Law Society - “Greenwashing” what do you need to know?
New UK law in 2024, will bring penalties for “GreenWashing”.
