EPA - Ireland's Environment, An Integrated Assessment - 2020

Ireland’s Environment – An Integrated Assessment 2020 8. Research on Industry and the Environment Research programmes are vital for providing integrated solutions for many of the complex environmental challenges facing the industry sectors in Ireland. The EPA has a statutory role in coordinating environmental research in Ireland. Since 2016, the EPA has funded up to 46 new research projects relevant to the Environment and Industry area; a commitment of €5.3 million. Funding came from the EPA Research Programme 2014-2020 and the EPA Green Enterprise Scheme. These projects include research undertaken by teams in Queen’s University Belfast and the National University of Ireland Galway that identified several phosphorus treatment and recycling technologies that could effectively compete with existing technologies and provide small- to medium-scale solutions for the agri-food sector (Macintosh et al. , 2019). This research project followed a related study by Ryan et al. (2016), which evaluated phosphorus recovery technologies in an Irish context. Further work is ongoing in University College Cork aiming to demonstrate a circular economy approach to dairy- processing wastewater through the reuse of valuable components in the effluent within the local and global economy. The Algeopolymer project, led by a team in the University of Limerick, researched the potential reuse of industrial wastes, such as bauxite and fly ash, as core ingredients in geopolymer cement (Ujaczki et al. , 2019). Funded research can also assist the EPA in identifying behavioural change tools to promote going beyond compliance in the regulated community (Keely et al. , 2020) and to assist smarter remote enforcement (Collins et al. , 2014; McDermott et al. , 2015). Research programmes provide integrated solutions for many of the complex environmental challenges facing industry. A case in point is current research also under way at the University of Limerick with industrial partners. The team is looking at the potential of waste and the opportunity it presents to recover valuable metals from the likes of mine tailings, bauxite residue and industrial filter cakes. The concept of water stewardship allows companies to understand their water-related risks and implement strategies that minimise them and promote the business’s long-term sustainability. These risks may be physical, reputational, financial or regulatory. Following consultation with major water users in Ireland, Stockil et al. (2016) reported exciting opportunities to further improve Ireland’s attractiveness as an investment location and as a leader in water stewardship practices on the international stage (Figure 10.15). At a global level, the area of monitoring emissions from industry is expected to be revolutionised with the launch of a new satellite system capable of tracking air pollutants from every large power station in the world in real time. Developed by the non-profit emissions reduction software company Watt Time and supported by Google, the project will use a global network of satellites to measure carbon dioxide emissions before making the data public. Satellite technologies cannot replace all ground-based monitoring, and it remains to be seen how steady and sensitive the measurements will be, but, if successful, this approach could supplement enforcement efforts. Figure 10.15  European Water Stewardship Standard Certification for Responsible Water Practices (Source: Central Solutions, 2017) ABP is one of Europe’s largest food processors and a EPA Large Water User Community of Practice member. Management is committed to demonstrating their ethos of sustainable resource management. Before: To help reach its 2020 corporate targets in terms of reduced resource consumption ABP sought to achieve certification with the European Water Stewardship at their site in Cahir. This accreditation process involved meeting a number of criteria site-wide related to sustainable water management in terms of water quantity, quality and governance. After: Central-Solutions performed gap analysis at the site, which began with benchmarking the sites performance against individual criteria listed in the standard in order to highlight areas that needed further improvement. Ideas and strategies were then developed to improve on these areas so that all of the necessary criteria were met in time for certification. Benefits: • ABP Cahir was the first food processor in Europe to achieve Gold status of the EWS standard for responsible water practices, demonstrating their continued commitment to resource management • The EWS standard helped direct the firm’s own improvements efforts as its criteria provide clear resource reduction goals • Pre-Screening identified where improvements were needed and ensured resources were utilised effectively in meeting criteria • Following success at ABP Cahir, management are keen to replicate these reductions and are currently implementing similar practices at all Irish sites European Water Stewardship Standard Accreditation Water Management Discovery Performance Certification Best inClass ' The insight provided by the analysis created a clear roadmap tailored to our firm, streamlining our certification process. ' Contact: Leanwater@central-solutions.com Supported by the Irish EPA Lean water tools : • Gap Analysis 274