The World is Changing - But is Manufacturing?

This article is dedicated to Earth Day being celebrated today April 22nd.

EARTHDAY.ORG’s theme for Earth Day 2021 is Restore Our Earth?, which focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. In this way, the theme rejects the notion that mitigation or adaptation are the only ways to address climate change. It is up to each and every one of us to Restore Our Earth not just because we care about the natural world, but because we live on it. We all need a healthy Earth to support our jobs, livelihoods, health & survival, and happiness. A healthy planet is not an option — it is a necessity!

I’m not an activist. I appreciate & support the freedom of speech & see the temptation to make a stand to force the hand of those that have the power & ultimately decide whether change will happen. THE Problem is those at the forefront resisting change the hardest, often are the biggest sinners & think they have the most to “lose”. But lose what exactly?

If all we are asking for is that companies & individuals do not pollute our water supply, they do not carelessly dispose of waste in places where waste is not supposed to be processed, that they do not freely use materials that are known to be wasteful & potentially harmful and that they stop unnecessarily exposing their employees to chemicals that are potentially poisonous & dangerous – Is it too much to ask, to expect. Where is the problem or the loss?

OK so there may be a few exceptions where a safer product doesn’t (yet) exist! At least one that provides the function, the performance - the same results of the solvent. It may not even be possible to change or to compromise. So (for now) we may need to accept that it will continue – or do we? Should we?

Certainly not - without a review, clear justification & absolutely not without the User being obligated to work safely, to take responsibility & ultimately be held accountable for not only their safe handling but crucially its disposal. Is the issue the use or its disposal?

Do we just trust users to self-regulate, to know their limits & decide when it is time to change?

So why change

In a world that continues to permit the use of chemicals & poisons in the process of manufacturing. To so called ethical 1st world nations, that lead through democracy, human rights & anticorruption - to put off to tomorrow what can & should easily be done today, to allow future generations to pay the piper & for no other reason than profit & competitive advantage - be ashamed!

The Problem - Excuses, Excuses..

• My competition in China isn’t regulated, they will use the saving to undercut me.
• Why change it - when it works & is tried & tested.
• All new products must first be tested which is too time consuming & costly to justify
• I tried a green product once before, it didn’t work well & was a waste of time

Our Response - Wake up and smell the Coffee

Change - because it is required, necessary & expected. It is Inevitable as well as the correct & responsible thing to do.

The world is moving on - Emerging Green Technologies & Innovating Thinking continually evolves & improves, enabling us to do today what wasn’t possible before. We cannot continue to work today to yesterdays’ standards

No one has the right to make decisions that are clearly detrimental to the environment & population. The Earth is Public property!

We can only affect decisions relating to our own actions – or can we?

Our Governments could decide to put in place restrictions & minimum standards that companies must conform to before a purchase is permitted – but do they, or will they? Governments too need to be accountable as much as any Manufacturer more even because they decide whether to create & enforce a law, a regulation - or not. They too decide whether another Government should be held to account for not regulating & enforcing the minimum requirements on their manufacturers.

We as Consumers can insist that Governments act, that standards are followed & can do so ultimately by deciding where we spend our money - which brings me back to activism & the power we all hold by just saying NO!

It is not the man in the street that causes the type of Pollution that is damaging the Earth - it is Industry!

Manufacturers decide to continue to use “single use” plastics, to transfer manufacturing to “advantageous” locations that are cheap & unregulated, where workers are “free” to use & dispose of chemicals without regulation (or enforcement)

• Decisions have Consequences.
• Employment has Responsibilities.
• Laws & Rules should imply Accountability.
• Irresponsible & potentially harmful actions requires Regulation.

It is not a secret - to protect our Earth we need to put in place minimum standards & stop making excuses.

It is not justifiable for the wealthiest countries to continue to build Powerplants using fossil fuels, (regardless of the demand for cheap energy, now) as there are viable alternatives!

It is not acceptable to continue to use a Solvent simply because it works, is cheap & readily available. The process of making it (from fossil fuels) as well as their actual use is harmful & dangerous & there are viable alternatives!

If a company decides to continue to use hazardous chemicals there must be a minimum standard applied that is enforced Nationally & Globally because - Decisions have Consequences.

If a company decides to use products that could potentially harm their employees & their customers there must be a minimum standard of effective protection & regulation that is enforced Nationally & Globally because - Employment has Responsibilities

If a company decides to avoid or flout Laws & Rules, to make decisions impacting the environment for the sake of a competitive advantage or profit alone there is no excuse or justification.

Until Directors & Businesses are legally required to commit to regulations & are held Accountable for their decisions, there will be no significant change.

Why should there be, who is making them?

Restore our Earth - Protect water quality, Nurture our insect populations, Prevent unnecessary energy use, Stop plastic pollution & Improve food sustainability.