An integrated approach
August 1st 2006 Cranfield University's Sustainable Systems Department provides a source of expertise rarely found; it is able to provide multidisciplinary research into environmental science that integrates expertise into real-world problem solving. Professor Simon Pollard, head of the Sustainable Systems Department and Professor of Waste and Environmental Risk Management at Cranfield University, talks to Tim McManan- Smith about turning environmental challenges into opportunities , and suggests how an integrated approach could change the way we deal with waste
The school of Industrial and Manufacturing Science's Sustainable Systems Department, along with the Natural Resources Department at Cranfield University, providess postgraduate teaching into a number of key environmental areas.However, but it is the fact that it works closely with industry,Government and entities such as the Environment Agency that gives Cranfieldit its reputation. The Sustainable Systems Department is undertaking Rresearch is undertaken to provide technical solutions to environmental problems, it also advises on policy and the social aspects of environmental policy implementation. Having a multidisciplinary approach to problems allows the Cranfield to address problems as a whole and not just provide a particular solution to one specific problem.
The energy,water,waste and environmental challenges cut across many different areas ofn knowledge and looking at them in isolation provides an incoherent method of addressing the issues."As the environmental agenda coalesces we need to join these things areas up," comments Pollard."For example, waste must not just be seen as rubbish, it must be seen as a resource.We can recycle what we can and then perhaps burn what cannot be recycled as an energy source".
The waste tag never leaves a product that is waste, even though it may be a raw material for somebody else such as a primary fuel.The regulatory burden that follows a material that has the waste tag means that many people do not bother with doing anything with it except for dumping it.This must change, the regulatory pressures must be dealt with in the context of a business opportunity.
What we have now is regulations versus business opportunity and the challenge is to get these two working together.This will ensure that waste gets seenis recognised as a resource and must also have the technical know- how to make this an effective business opportunity."This would involve designing products better to be able to be disassemble d and to be able to remanufacture to keep products going rather than throw them away when one component fails. "We need to develop a new business model for products," comments Pollard.This means moving to a method of business similar to what was donehappened in the past with companies such as radio rentals.Where you pay a fee to have a television and this is maintained and serviced by the company and what you are really paying for is to watch television, not to own a television. In a similar way none of us wants to own washing machines, what we really want is to have clean clothes. The types of business model where you pay for a service and not a product could be used to encourage product longevity and stop the attitude that if it's broken it's not worth repairing. "This would close the loop and stop products falling out of the loop as waste immediately. It is the service that is all important not owning the product," says Pollard.
In a similar way, the WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) Directive would have greater effect if the product was returned to the producer rather than the retailer.The producer could recycle or reuse parts of the product and find greater use for them than a retailer simply opting to dispose of unsaleable goods. One of the reasons for introducing WEEE is so that product design will be influenced by the need to take recyclability and reuse into account.
Increasing burden
There is an increasing burden of regulation from Europe but this will not be a problem if it is risk based regulation.The aim is to look for the worst things first and tackle these. The poor operators running hazardous processes would be in trouble but the majority of decent companies would not find this a problem."Sustainable practices also have their positives in that big investors look at sustainability as an issue. Companies can't duck in the future, corporate governance requires that key business risks are published," remarks Pollard."There is a balance here, given new legislation coming through the pipe, there are periodic reviews by Government. And business puts pressure on the Government to regularly review and assess any new or existing legislation".
Research topics
Current areas of research conducted at Cranfield include: biomass for power generation; options for using the North substructure for carbon storage; waste modelling for London; Environment Agency amenity risks; hydrocarbon wastes remediation; the energy network for water utilities; along with policy advice and technical guidance.This is only a glimpse of some of the many areas the Sustainable Systems Department at Cranfield University is helping industry and Government to find a more rounded solution to environmental problems. It is also a member of the IPM-Net (Integrated Pollution Management Knowledge Transfer Network) that aims to help technology transfer across the environment sector and provide a resource for environmental industries.This ties in with Pollard's view that environmental issues are "going to become more integrated.
Science, regulation, business opportunities are all cross connected. Not just science and technology but social science as well. I think that we at Cranfield are close to the forefront of this agenda". More articles from Cranfield University: | 
