Industrial Sustainability

'There are over 200 definitions of sustainable development. But if defining it is difficult, putting it into practice is even harder.'

Institution of Civil Engineers

Sustainability is a key concept that we are teaching all our students on the Manufacturing Engineering degree course at Cambridge. We consider it vital for the industrialists of tomorrow to be aware of the issues that need to be addressed. I have particular interests in teaching environmentally conscious processing methods and selection of materials.

Recent studies have shown that parts of Northern Europe and Scandinavia are world leaders in this field, whereas UK industry has been slow to grasp the challenges and opportunities that sustainable development brings.The results of a study tour in Northern Europe which focussed on the major issues were presented to industrialists and government officials at a conference run by our fourth year students in 2001.

We are looking towards a fundamental change in the way our society operates, and research, being carried out by a PhD student Marcus Wong, includes looking at product service systems as a means of increasing sustainability in the industrial sector. When does it become beneficial to rent your carpets, computers, photocopiers and industrial premises rather than buy them? Renting can prevent a great deal of un-necessary waste by offering the possibility of recycling products when they are no longer required.

We hope to produce a software tool that industrialists can use to help them make the appropriate decisions to improve their business operations with regard to sustainability as well as financial success.

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Tel:01223 338184

Other environmentally related projects:

Industrial Sustainability group