Konarka wins a Green Manufacturing atta-boy for the greenest use of another business. In the ultimate green move, they have converted a 250,000 sf Polaroid graphic arts manufacturing facility to produce the world’s largest roll to roll thin film solar film facility. Talk about innovation and reusing items. There is probably no more novel change than going from producing printed media, a very un-green activity to producing sustainable energy alternatives. There is a great article on this at
http://www.graphicartsonline.com/article/CA6602969.html?desc=topstory
I’m sure that there are many businesses that offer state of the art equipment, that through unfortunate circumstances fail. Instead of just selling off the assets and spending huge money shipping them around the globe, Konarka found a way to reuse the entire facility.
What else could be built in many of the failing manufacturing facilities around the US? When Henry Ford started mass producing cars, buggy whip manufacturers had to adapt to changes in the world. It’s time for US Manufacturing to do the same thing. Let’s focus on new ways that we can reuse equipment that we have to create new products to increase sustainability. If we look at what is needed for producing equipment for producing alternative energy, maybe we should focus on reallocating equipment and retaining a workforce to create a positive change.
At VirTex Assembly, we look for ways to create a new business model or business process for our clients that results in a greener world. Doing business locally is one way to do this. Fuel costs for logistics are reduced and the impact on the environment is less.
What do you think about this? Is there some business you know of that is using innovation to create a greener world or product? What can you do?
Brad
