 Sustainability Awareness in the Transportation Industry Global consolidation for many in the transportation industry also creates expansion opportunities for others. Both for sectors, pressures to reduce negative impact on the environment continue to escalate. Industry leaders not only feel pressured from government mandates and regulatory commissions, but also from customers, suppliers and competitors. Shareholders and partners, in the same breath, call for increased profitability. Can the transportation industry shift to using energy and resources more efficiently? Can global transporters develop climate strategies while driving high performance? Being hit from all sides at present, there is little to do but take steps to please everyone. While the transportation industry balances both brand management with the environmental impact of their operations, it’s good to know that 60 US Universities have been focusing on such issues for several years. At Michigan Tech, the University Transportation Center for Materials in Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure (MiSTI), has been exploring the role materials play in the sustainability of our transportation infrastructure. Research staff continue to explore innovative materials that are more economical to construct, repair and maintain - promoting environmental stewardship. One such material is not new, but may have innovative applications in the transportation industry: aluminum. Randall Scheps, Director at Alcoa, claims that aluminum will play a crucial role in increasing payload, reducing maintenance and having a longer service life for transport vehicles. Aluminum is less corrosive than steel, fully recyclable, and lighter in weight. Scheps boasts that heavy-duty trucks could potentially be 4,000 pounds lighter with strategic body panel replacements. This also could result in 50-80 tons of emissions saved per large transport over its lifetime. Currently, billions of aluminum beverage cans are being recycled into truck parts in the US alone every year. Going forward, the many sectors of the transportation industry will be called upon to conform, assess, reduce and document continuous improvement efforts. Client tools needed for environmental data management will be in demand, as well as data tools for ISO support. High performance companies already understand the integral connection between future sustainability efforts and industry leadership, and profitability. To find out more, click on a link below. |