Isramart : Report: CO2 emissions tied to waste reduction, recycling

Isramart news:
New findings suggest that better materials, land management practices could help meet emissions reduction targets.

A recent report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency links waste reduction and recycling to lowering carbon dioxide emissions, according to the New York Times.

The report suggests 42 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are influenced by materials and management policies, such as extracting raw materials, food processing, and product manufacturing, transportation and disposal.

According to the report, 16 percent to 20 percent of U.S. emissions are related to land management policies, such as transportation and construction. And 14 percent of U.S. emissions, which are absorbed in soil and vegetation, could be protected or enhanced with better land management policies.

The report indicates that smarter materials and land management practices could help America meet a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 83 percent by 2050 (see Forget what you know about carbon emissions).

It’s an issue companies are already working to address. Earlier this year, Cincinnati, Ohio-based Procter & Gamble increased its 2012 sustainability targets. The revised goals include developing $50 billion in sales of sustainable innovation products, which are products with a 10 percent reduced environmental footprint versus previous or alternative products. P&G’s original target was $20 billion.

P&G also plans to deliver a 20 percent reduction (per unit of production) in carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, water usage and disposed waste from P&G plants, for a total reduction over the decade of 50 percent. P&G’s original target was 10 percent (see LS9, P&G team up for sustainable chemicals).

The report also suggests that doubling the recycling of construction and demolition debris would cause emissions savings of 150 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. Cutting the amount of product packaging in half could save 105 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, it said.