Sustainability is at the heart of HPS and we attend as many learning opportunities as we can to develop our understanding of sustainability and find new techniques and strategies to implement into our daily work lives.
In June, we attended the Sustainable Food Factory Exhibition & Conference and the Sustainable Supply Chain Conference, two conferences focused on sustainability within manufacturing and supply chains.
Both conferences featured excellent talks on how industries are developing and making better use of the space and resources available.
Sustainable Food Factory Exhibition & Conference
Nottingham Trent University, 12 June 2024
Focused on sustainability in the food manufacturing sector, the Sustainable Food Factory Exhibition & Conference provided a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the different technologies and methods being implemented by food manufacturers across the UK.
From talks on vertical farming, a food production technique that makes use of air space and reduces land and water consumption, to how AI can be used in food manufacturing, the event provided plenty of talking points.
As exhibitors, HPS also had the opportunity to show and discuss with attendees how Advanced Liquid Product Recovery (Pigging) Technology helps manufacturers improve the sustainability of their manufacturing processes.
From reducing waste to cutting carbon emissions, there are many ways that food manufacturers benefit from pigging technology, and we loved sharing our insights with attendees.
Sustainable Supply Chain Conference
London, 25 June 2024
Our Sustainability Coordinator, Bethany French, attended this conference in London. Here’s what she had to say about the event:
“Supply chains cover many different aspects of a business’ operations, from material sourcing to warehousing and transportation.
The Sustainable Supply Chain Conference provides a holistic approach to how sustainability in business can influence bottom lines. From how sustainability can and should be implemented into business strategy to carbon accounting and alternative transport methods, the actions that businesses can take to improve sustainability throughout their supply chain are endless.
Supply chain carbon emissions account for a company’s scope three carbon emissions, which, as several speakers pointed out, typically account for the vast majority of a company’s entire carbon footprint.
As we work towards reducing HPS’s carbon footprint, we will be focusing on developing our partnerships with our supply and value chain to encourage and support them in reducing their own carbon footprint.”
Having come back from the conference with a great deal more knowledge and information, Beth and the HPS Green Team, which contains representatives from every department, will be developing a plan aimed at cutting HPS’s scope 3 carbon emissions.
The Importance of Sustainability in Manufacturing
Sustainability in the manufacturing industry is becoming increasingly important. Companies of all sizes have begun working towards net zero targets, with many hoping to achieve their goal by 2030.
The target deadline is just over five years away. To achieve these sustainability goals, manufacturing firms must continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies and adopt innovative strategies that minimise their environmental impact. This includes optimising energy use, reducing waste, and integrating sustainable practices across their operations.
Pigging Technology for Improved Sustainability
HPS’s advanced pigging technology is used by manufacturers of liquid and wet products for a variety of reasons, including improved sustainability.
Originally developed for effective and hygienic product recovery, over the last 29 years HPS has been able to quantify some of the environmental benefits of pigging.
Water Reduction
Barbot Paints, a prominent Portuguese paint manufacturer, used HPS pigging technology to reduce bacterial contamination in their product. As they reviewed their processes, they saw an opportunity to reduce the amount of water they used in their manufacturing.
The bidirectionality of the HPS pig allows Barbot to perform a water push and, when returning the pig to its housing, the water used is pushed back to its source. This water can then be redirected into production, saving them, and the planet, water.
Waste Reduction
HPS clients have been seeing reduced waste for years. One of our more recent clients, the DCS Group, has measured their waste before and after implementing HPS pigging technology.
They are seeing a 93% reduction in waste, resulting in very little waste and effluent.
Carbon Reduction
At HPS, we take immense pride in the carbon reduction benefits of our pigging technology.
In an in-depth study conducted by the sustainability consultancy Carbon-Zero, using water-based paint production as an example, it was found that implementing HPS pigging technology can reduce carbon emissions by up to 99.3% per changeover.
Read the full report on carbon footprint reduction and HPS pigging technology.
Find Out More
If you’d like to know more about how pigging technology can make your production processes more sustainable, please get in touch with HPS.
With over 29 years of experience in hygienic product recovery, we can design bespoke pigging systems that will help you achieve your goals.