26 April 2022
Our commitment to sustainability, which includes running our sites more efficiently, has led Infineum to come up with innovative ways of cutting carbon emissions.
Employees approached external specialists to better understand the role of steam across our 40-acre North American site, in Linden, which incorporates facilities supporting research and development. This includes state-of-the-art laboratories, pilot manufacturing plants and a pilot-scale lubricant blending facility.
The inefficiencies identified and subsequent actions taken have led to a 29% reduction in steam consumption at the site in 2021 compared to 2020. Overall, carbon emissions are down by around 1,000 tons, equivalent to those generated annually by more than 400 homes.*
*According to https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
There are impressive cost savings too, 350,000 US dollars annually.
Action to protect the environment reflects our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including the Climate Action goal (SDG 13).
Our in-house maintenance team worked with external partners to find innovative solutions to reducing our emissions. We recognised that we needed to better understand the role of steam in heating, hot water and pilot plant processes
Site Manager Bert Armeny
Actions taken to reduce our steam consumption included:
- Replacing steam traps and cutting off and sealing steam lines in unoccupied buildings
- Using innovative techniques such as thermal guns to identify leaks
- Investing in more advanced equipment to improve steam quality and heat content, while reducing waste
- Routine reviews to ensure optimal building use and therefore less steam and electricity consumption
This is a great example of work going on throughout Infineum globally. Not only is this initiative better for the environment, but it’s also better for business because of the cost savings we have made along the way
Sustainability Director Maurizio Abbondanza
When environmental benefit coincides with business benefit, progress towards a more sustainable future becomes easier.
Next, the Linden team is investigating the reuse and recycling of water separated out in the steam process, so it can benefit other site areas.
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