As local and national environmental regulations changed, particularly in the 1990s, Induron and companies like ours needed to document compliance with the new rules. Regulatory agencies were (and are) taking a much firmer stance on emissions, and it was clear changes were going to have to be made.
The rewards for lowering emissions are substantial – demonstrating lowered emissions means eligibility for a Synthetic Minor permit, which shows the community in general and the industry in particular that your company is committed to environmentally-responsible manufacturing; thus making you much more attractive to customers looking for like-minded suppliers.
But it can’t be a “one and done” process. You’ll need to look at your emissions levels both now and in the future – since you’ll hopefully be producing at even greater levels in the future as your business expands.
So what can you do to demonstrate your commitment to reduced emissions? When you’re looking to reduce emissions from a manufacturing process, you only have two workable options:
- Stop the emissions from releasing into the air by sealing vessels and processes; or
- Reduce hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions through product reformulations, thereby reducing total emissions by reducing emissions from products in-the-field.
In 2006, our reported annual HAP emissions had peaked at about 25 tons annually. Later that year, Induron obtained the Synthetic Minor permit through significant efforts to reduce formula HAP emissions. We reformulated many of our key products to accomplish this. When reporting our annual HAP emissions to the Jefferson County Department of Health in 2007, Induron reported HAP emissions of just under 2.8 tons – a reduction of almost 90 percent over the prior year!
Since that time, Induron has worked to continue this reduction. We reported HAP emissions of only 1.9 tons in 2011. Our current low HAP emissions level allows for considerable growth in the future by staying well within the Minor permit limits. All this – with no sacrifice of product quality.
Induron… reliable, innovative – and green!
Founded in 1947, Induron manufactures high performance coatings that serve a range of industrial applications, including the wastewater, transmission and distribution and groundwater storage industries. Learn more about us at www.Induron.com.