Baron is constantly working towards environmental preservation through conscious resource management for sustainability in the industry. We are in the process of ISO 14,000 certification, an international standard for environmental management, which will help guide our actions to ensure proper resource management and minimize our environmental impact as much as possible.

We have already completed the first verification audit, and the certification audit is scheduled for mid-2023.

Careful use of resources

Ecological consideration begins with the selection of raw materials used at the beginning of the product lifecycle. Depending on the origin of the material, different emissions and environmental impacts need to be taken into account. Using secondary raw materials that have emerged from a previous product lifecycle is more resource-efficient than using newly extracted primary raw materials for manufacturing a product.

The origin of the raw materials used also plays a role in industry sustainability because longer distances result in longer transportation routes that leave a significant ecological footprint on our world. Therefore, the return of materials for recycling to Baron only makes sense if the ecological footprint is positive, taking into account the resource consumption for transportation to our factory.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process has a significant environmental impact. The more energy-intensive the processing and production, the more resources are consumed and emissions are generated.

Careful use of resources of all kinds is one of our main objectives. We continuously analyze and optimize our material cycles and energy flows. We focus on using more sustainable raw materials.

A significant part of a product’s lifecycle is the utilization phase, which depends on the product’s lifespan.

The more durable the product, the less frequently it needs to be replaced. In addition to uninterrupted use, this also contributes to resource savings in the form of spare parts. In this line of thinking, we strive to work with materials that provide the best performance for the customer, and we also work on developing new formulations that increase the lifespan in the final application, reducing resource consumption (raw materials, energy, water, fuels, etc.) throughout the production chain. With this goal in mind, we have developed the DURAMAXX product line with materials formulated for higher performance and durability.

We have been producing the DURAMAXX line for industrial applications for over a decade. Based on this experience, we know that, due to its special properties, DURAMAXX contributes to resource conservation in many industries. For example:

Mobile mining equipment becomes lighter with our anti-adhesive coatings, resulting in reduced fuel consumption. Silos, hoppers, and chutes lined with our sheets have an extended lifespan, consuming fewer natural resources and requiring less energy to operate. Sugar and ethanol production plants that use chains guides made with our UHMW consume less energy in operation, generate less noise, and last longer. UHMW Life Cycle Perspective – Industry Sustainability A more detailed analysis of the life cycle perspective of sheets, parts, and rods produced with UHMW by Baron provides our customers, shareholders, and employees with a comprehensive view of the impact we can have on the environment.

With the actions we take during the production of our products, we can contribute to reducing emissions and waste generation that can negatively impact our planet. In summary, we can list the following:

• Within the Circular Economy concept, we recycle 100% of the trimmings generated in our production process, both from extrusion of sheets and rods and from machining. These trimmings are reprocessed and give rise to our Duramaxx ECO sheets, which, being produced with uncontaminated trimmings, preserve the original properties of UHMW, ensuring optimal performance in application as well as environmental benefits.
• Our production process is powered by photovoltaic panels, reducing the impacts of energy generation and distribution. We use the sun as our energy source.
• Our process does not use water and does not generate emissions, resulting in a clean and sustainable process.

End-of-life solutions Responsible use of resources includes recycling at the end of a product’s lifecycle and is crucial for sustainability in the industry. Depending on the type of material, possibilities can range from material trim recycling to final thermal recycling for energy generation.

Thermoplastics are easy to recycle as they can be mechanically shredded and reformed within a certain temperature range. Our UHMW sheets and machined parts are fully recyclable, following specific rules for this type of material. Since UHMW cannot be recycled in conventional extruders like HDPE and PP, specific grinding, micronization, and hot forming processes using RAM extruders and presses or energy recycling, as mentioned earlier, must be used.

Process trimmings are often generated during the production of plastic components. However, this trim is often high-quality material. Sensible use involves reprocessing this trim into new raw materials for future products. A recycling cycle is necessary for trimmings to be used sensibly.