Boeing Canada Operations Limited – more commonly known as Boeing Winnipeg – is the largest aerospace composite manufacturer in Canada. To reduce waste, the organization is pursuing a “zero-waste-to-landfill” goal that is the first of its kind within Boeing.
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Prashant Rajurkar, environmental specialist at
Boeing Winnipeg, displays the results of a
team recycling initiative.
Photo Credit: John Woods, Associated Press. |
To improve its environmental performance, Boeing Winnipeg keeps point-of-use recycling carts on the manufacturing floor and uses progressive cooling technology in its high-pressure steam sterilization equipment. These changes helped the organization earn an ISO 14001 environmental certification in 2008 and prompted employees to hold workshops to examine additional “green” initiatives. One innovative idea that resulted from these workshops was the use of point-of-use vacuums on the production floor to collect recyclable metal bits that could otherwise be lost.
As a result of its work to reduce packaging, leftover materials and solid waste, Boeing Winnipeg has developed a plan to divert 98% of the 747-8 Engine Strut Aft Fairing manufacturing area’s waste from landfills and reduce energy consumption by 76%. These figures exceed Boeing Canada’s existing environmental targets that call for a 25% boost in recycling rates and a 5% increase in energy efficiency by 2012.
To learn more about Boeing Canada, visit its AIAC Member Profile and the Boeing Canada website.