novotruck Environmental Statement . . .
Novotruck environmental Statement.
This means following for us; the description of handling resources for our common benefit and, in particular, for the benefit of future generations.What we can contribute:Environmentally friendly vehicle parts and components.Provide the best solutions through integrated concepts in the development, production and use of vehicles and their components because ecologically responsible thinking plays a fundamental role for the environment and for us. For many years now all Novotruck products have been consistently produced based on a decision-making ecological balance and design for recycling.Ecological balance: environmental influences from the recovery of raw materials to production.Ecological balance begins with the recovery of raw materials that are later used for individual components in our sales organisation or to produce complete solutions. The energy used in the extraction of minerals or for the recovery of raw materials is evaluated in exactly the way as emission in transportation and further processing. This comprehensive way of looking at the situation is carried through the entire development process up to production, in which resources requirements, waste and emission are taken in consideration. Transport performance and the expenditure for components in the supplier’s chain are included. Even the different painting procedures and their respective effects are reflected in the assessment of the ecological balance. Even the fuel consumption of vehicles used by the sales force plays a role. Of course, the effect of fuel consumption and the emission of the vehicle, in which a Novotruck component, after all, serves its duty, also play a very important role. This is finally followed by an analysis of the assessment possibilities, for example, recycling at the end of the product’s life cycle. Utilisation and how to get there.Comparability is decisive.In order to make ecological balance results comparable with each other requires clear comparative criteria: The experts call them effects-categories or ecological life cycle indicators. This means, reducing as far as possible, or in an ideal case, completely preventing, environmental influences in the life cycle of the component under examination. Important indicators in the automotive and building sectors are, for example, the resources demand of the greenhouse potential – carbon dioxide (CO2)-equivalents, the acidifying potential – sulphur dioxide (SO2)-equivalents, the potential formation of ground level ozone – methane-equivalents.This is exactly the point at which we establish demanding standards: so-called primary substances, which might lead to these possible environmental influences later on, or in their effects have comparable emissions, are taken into consideration. For example, if methane is given off to environment at anytime during the development of a component, then experts convert the proportionate emission into its carbon dioxide equivalent. This ensures that the greenhouse potential of the natural gas methane is taken into consideration. That the use of all substances with a greenhouse potential has been abolished for a long time is not just lip service, but a provable fact. We use no propellants – and no solvents – neither in production nor in service.Metals or plastics – the ecological balance is as decisive principleThe consistent use of the ecological balance allows decisions to be taken as an integrated whole. Thus, for example, this procedure was used to decide the choice of materials for the superstructure and interior components of vehicle insulation.Basically, there are four suitable materials available:
• Steel,
• Aluminium,
• Sheet moulding compound (SMC, duroplastics) and
• Thermoplastic plastic (TP)Based on detailed process-chain analysis the four alternatives have been modelled in ecological balance software.
Special emphasis was placed on the painting process because depending on the choice of material; conceptually different operational processes are used for very large surfaces. In addition to that, specific production steps like those of the thermoplastic alternative and the different recycling processes have been incorporated in the ecological balance. The analysis of the four materials resulted in a positive environmental influence for the light materials, in particular due to the weight, which resulted in lower fuel consumption and a higher vehicle loading capacity. Thus, in the comparison of steel for aluminium and sheet moulding compounds in the comparison criteria “greenhouse potential” resulted in an advantage of between 11 and 16 percent. Thermoplastic plastics in comparison with steel showed an even greater improvement of 26 percent. In the potential for the formation of ground level ozone, the thermoplastic- and aluminium alternative showed a very clear advantage of over 20 percent. The acidification potential revealed a distinctively different picture. The “aluminium-alternative” due to its production processes showed only a marginal advantage in comparison to steel, whereas the alternative “thermoplastic plastics” once again stood out with a significant advantage of approximately 18 percent. Clear resultFrom an entirely ecological point of view, the thermoplastic alternative in this vehicle application represents the best choice due to its lightweight construction potential, its material efficiency in the production process with the highest degree of material utilisation and its good recycling capability. This is why 95% of our vehicle insulation and superstructure currently consists of plastics. The know-how gained from the ecological balance, could also of course be used for other vehicle projects – however, only on a limited basis. Then for the respective “correct“ decision, the special design concept of a component and what is required from the product always has to be borne in mind. Ecological balances are always model-specific, general statements for or against certain technologies, materials and processes are as a rule not permitted and also do not lead to the objective. Every vehicle project must be assessed within its own defined scope. The principal aim of all our efforts and defined company objective however, is always complete resources utilisation and a far as possible negligible ecological damage. That is exactly our definition of sustainable mobility.
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By pursuing a policy of environment oriented product concepts Novotruck is continuously striving to make its products increasingly efficient and environmentally friendly. Environment influences occur here not only in the plant or the recycling of a product. Certainly the choice of materials from which it will be made as well as the production, application and exploitation will directly or indirectly affect the environment. Novotruck’s designers and developers are therefore always looking for even more efficient and at the same time economically acceptable solutions at the conception of every new product. For example, components and sub-assembly units for the various innovative technologies, materials or processes concerned are always checked for their specific effects on the environment. The instrument used for this is called “Life Cycle Assessment”, in German: Ökobilanz Fallstudie. “Life Cycle Assessment” (LCA) is a comprehensive methodology for decision-making from an ecological point of view on the choice of technology, materials and processing procedures or on the assessment of innovative concepts.This should achieve in particular
• A more economical use of energy and raw materials,
• The best possible minimisation of emissions and
• The precautionary prevention and reduction of waste..
An extensive recycling system for structural components
means for us:All utilised working and composite materials are assigned
an appropriate waste-key and can be disposed of by the local waste disposal
agent or by the waste disposal systems of ambitious motor vehicle producers
and can be re-used to large extent. We have a recycling quota of 90% in
the area of vehicle insulation. In the area of superstructure we can currently
find new application for 95% of the materials we have used. Novotruck’s
ecological concept does not end with drainage and utilisation of oil.
Waste occurs during the running phase of vehicles and at servicing companies
from repairs and worn parts as well from working materials.Novotruck organises
the proper utilisation of old parts and residues. This is done by way
of market and State specific programmes of waste disposal.Sustainability
as Novotruck’s company objective.Novotruck accepts responsible for
the environment. Ecological balance and design for recycling are within
this context important methods of decision-making. Lasting actions in
the sense of ecological responsible dealing with the resources and materials
has been self-evident at Novotruck for many years; preservation of the
environment is among the company’s established objectives. The results
of our endeavours are, apart from active environmental protection, the
various prizes from a diversity of vehicle manufacturers for our ecological
endeavours. Novotruck February 2006
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