€500k Savings
Identified at
P lastics Sector
Synergy Workshop
€500k potential savings were identified at a Network Synergy Workshop held in Mullingar on 29th October 2008 with respect to Recycling and Resource Minimisation.
This successful event was attended by companies from the plastics and polymers sector across the island and also a wide range of solution providers including those from the plastics recovery and recycling sector.
The event assisted companies in identifying and optimising the use of previously unused or discarded resources, such as materials, energy, water, office space, transportation and expertise.
The synergy workshop was led by the NISP Northern Ireland team and during the workshop potential savings of €500k and the potential to divert 3,500tons of materials from landfill, were identified. The synergy workshop matched companies with an excess of a resource with other companies that can utilise that resource.
On the day, experts from a range of disciplines gave detailed presentations and provided practical advice to the polymer and plastics sector as a whole. A range of collaborative opportunities were highlighted by the speakers to develop profitable synergistic relationships.
Synergy Workshop is to
be held in Mullingar on
29th October 2008 about
Recycling and Resource
Minimisation.
This event should not be missed
by companies in the Plastics and
Polymers sector, or those involved
in plastics recovery and recycling.
The event will help companies to
identify and optimise the use of
previously unused or discarded
resources, such as materials,
energy, water, office space, transportation
and expertise.
The Presentations give can be downloaded below ;
Schedule
08:30 – 09:00 Registration and Coffee
09:00 – 09:05 Welcome
Adrian Marks, Manager of the All-Island Polymer and Plastics Network (AIPPN)
09:05 – 09:25 Resource Efficiency for SMEs
Noel Duffy, Clean Technology Centre, Cork Institute of Technology
09:25 – 09:50 Biotechnological conversion of plastic waste and sustainable resources to a biodegradable plastic.
Kevin O’Connor, Biocatalysis Research Group, University College Dublin
This research group has recently developed a novel platform technology for the conversion of waste materials including petrochemical plastics, agricultural byproducts, and byproducts of biodiesel manufacture to a high value biodegradable virgin plastic material, polyhydroxyalkanoate. Petrochemical plastics are subjected to thermal degradation in the absence of air (pyrolysis) to generate oil. The oil generated is supplied to bacteria for biodegradable plastic synthesis. The group has a library of bacteria capable of converting a range of pyrolysis products to polyhydroxyalkanoate. Polyhydroxyalkanoate is an emerging polymer, which has uses in both packaging and biomedical applications. The conversion of waste to a biodegradable plastic is doubly beneficial to the environment through the prevention of land filling or exportation of waste and the concomitant production of an environmentally friendly high value virgin biodegradable plastic.
09:50 – 10:15 A Recycling Journey
Paul Kinkead, Environment Manager, Michelin Tyres Plc
An overview of the transformation that Michelin have achieved in waste and resource efficiency. Through the development of solutions for all waste streams the company has delivered high value cost savings and minimised waste to landfill. This process has changed the way the company views waste and now demonstrates that “100% recycling does make good business sense”.
10:15 -10:40 Funding and Developing a Good Idea
John Colbert, Associate Consultant, Smithers Rapra
Companies can often come up with a good idea for a new process or product, but not have the time or money to develop it. In this talk I will discuss how to obtain help with both the writing of an application for funding, choosing appropriate funding sources, finding partners, and then managing the project. I will also highlight some recent projects that illustrate the width and scope of research that can be undertaken with external funding.
10:40 – 11:00 Networking Coffee
11:00 – 11:15 Green Business Initiative_A Waste Prevention Project for SME_s
Keiron Phillips, EPA
11:15 – 11:45 Overview of Industrial Symbiosis
Trevor Knipe, Programme Co-Ordinator, NISP
The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP) is a free business opportunity programme that delivers bottom line, environmental and social benefits to its members and is the first industrial symbiosis initiative.
Committed to connecting industry and creating opportunity, NISP brings together companies from all business sectors with the aim of improving cross industry resource efficiency. This focuses on ALL TYPES OF RESOURCE – materials, energy, water AND supports the sharing of assets, logistics and expertise.
- Since April 2005, NISP has helped around 70 plastic reprocessing companies across the UK.
- Levered over £16.2 million in private investment in innovative plastics reprocessing.
- Diverted almost 60,000 tonnes of plastics from landfill.
- Secured cost savings of over £32 million.
- Safeguarded over 90 jobs.
- Generated 39 new jobs
11:45 -12:30 Symbiosis Workshop
Patrick MacCormack, NISP
This workshop will identify opportunities for collaboration between the businesses attending this workshop. From past experience, such workshops generate real opportunities for collaboration, with the potential to make substantial savings due to landfill diversion and virgin material reduction.
The workshop will seek to match companies with excess resources with other businesses that can utilise those resources. Such resources may include: Pallets ? Chemicals ? Energy ? Transport ? Skills ? Expertise ? Packaging ? Solvents ? Plastics ? Sludge ? By-product ? Steam ? Effluent ? Water? Timber ? Metal ?
12:30 Close
If you would like any further information or would like to register your attendance please contact
Adrian Marks, Network Manager for the All-Island Polymer and Plastics Network
