Resource efficiency reviews are used to assist companies in identifying inefficiencies in manufacturing, distribution and storage.
A RER maps the resource use and wastage throughout a site, identifying opportunities for improvement. The reviews aim get to the root cause of waste on site, finding cost-effective ways to reduce waste, cut waste costs, and save money. Where relevant the review also considers opportunities to reduce energy consumption that has a direct impact on the overall environmental impact of the product.
With our extensive experience in carrying out resource reviews, from brick manufacturers to apple farms, itemised below is our methodological approach we have developed and used on over 100 different clients resource reviews
Engaging with the client to ensure the availability of key staff and data including
- Electricity, gas and water bills
- Input and output of materials
- Input and output of packaging
- Waste generated and cost of disposal
Reviewing the production stages of all of the major products to identify
- Waste energy and materials
- inefficiencies in the production processes
Review the yield loses in production and causes of production and quality failures and frequency thereof.
Quantify waste generated by:
- Material type
- Quantity of waste
- Composition of waste
- Wasted energy and water in production
- Value of materials wasted
- Proportion of waste generated going to landfill, recycling or other recovery routes;
- Energy
- Materials
Identify inefficiency of production, storage, distribution and retail plant including:
- Heating
- Lighting
- Cooling
- Water usage
- Machinery
Identify any issues in handling which result in product failure including at the:
- manufacturer
- Distributor
- Retailer
- End user.
Calculate the carbon footprint of all of the identified waste including:
- Energy
- Material
- Identify opportunities for
- Optimisation off packaging
- Reduction s in product damage
- Waste prevention
By identifying this inefficiencies we can then help identify solutions. For the carbon savings we are licenced to use Sima Pro LCA software which will assist in generating accurate carbon savings.
We also identify local good practice that should be utilised across the company.
From the review we can also advise companies on better energy, water and lighting efficiencies through updating plant, introducing metering systems, voltage stabilisation, power factor correction, water capture etc which can achieve significant financial savings with payback in under a year.