Oil Waste Solutions - Achieving Net Zero Goals

Up to a year ago the carbon footprint of oil waste treatment was not a topic that had come up very often. At SAS we know this issue is going to become increasingly prominent. 

What is the carbon footprint of oil waste treatment and transport? Within the space of perhaps a year this changed from a minor question to an central issue that requires to be addressed consistently in many of the projects we are engaged in.

Over the past few months, the team here at SAS, have tried to shine some light on this topic and provide some tools you can use yourself. Tools that give you the opportunity to assess what the impact of net zero requirements will be on your business. 

There will be no hiding from the realities of the drive to net zero for our economy. This issue will not go away and the demands on the industry will only grow to show leadership and commitment. Governments will increasingly push for evidence of positive measures and evidenced positive impact.

 Your customers will increasingly make the carbon cost part of the assessment criteria in contract tenders. You need to know where your process, your business stands within this framework. You need to understand how you can positively contribute and how you and your business can thrive and lead in this changing landscape.

Not many of us ever gave thought to scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Yet here we are. It’s time to start caring. We can help of course, here at SAS. Reach out to use if you want to get our thoughts on where you can move your business and your carbon impact.

Need help assessing your business and its progress towards Net Zero goals? Download our Business Net Zero Action Plan.

Working towards Net Zero – a Sustainable Business Ambition

To future proof your organisation in today’s fast-changing world, you need to balance economic and environmental considerations to ensure responsible, ongoing success.  Therefore, oil waste companies must develop a continuous improvement program that encompasses the implementation of an energy strategy. 

Waste Management Plans are not new. They have directed robust management strategies of achieving environmental compliance with the least impact on costs.  As the need for the measurement of carbon footprint and mitigation of discharge of GHG emissions becomes commonplace, any waste management strategy must consider the release of GHG into the environment as a significant consideration.  

Governments are pushing their economies towards a range of net zero carbon goals. It is important and virtually unavoidable that companies in the energy and waste management sector step up and reduce their own carbon footprints AND assess how their products and services impact their clients’ carbon footprint.

But what does Net Zero mean?  Net zero simply means achieving a balance between GHG emissions produced and those removed from the atmosphere.

By building a carbon reduction plan that balances these economic and environmental considerations waste generating companies will be best placed to outperform their competition and drive long-term success. 

So, if you are looking to assess your organisation’s carbon foot print and create a plan to reduce it and explain to your client how you can help reduce their carbon foot print, how do you start? Where to begin? Well, we have put together a useful action plan template to help guide you through this process.

Download our Net Zero Action Plan to find out what steps you can take now to reduce your carbon footprint in operations.

What challenges do businesses face in the transition to zero carbon?

Transition to zero carbon will be an important business priority over the next years. Governments are activity setting a target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which is expected to result in increasing legislation, as well as incentives, to ensure businesses play their part. 

Moving to a position of carbon neutrality is a significant undertaking, with many challenges facing businesses of all types. The desire to reduce carbon emissions is strong and continues to grow, as new generations enter the workforce and demand change. 

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Overcoming cost barriers

With increasing environmental pressures often come associated higher costs. The perceived burden of measuring, classifying and putting a programme of continuous improvement of Green House gas  (GHG) is an additional pressure on a company’s resources.

Change is always approached with apprehension and suspicion. However, with CHANGE comes OPPORTUNITY.

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At SAS ENVIRONMENTAL, we pride ourselves by providing innovative technical solutions to the treatment of wastes and recovery of valuable hydrocarbon resources. Our innovative technology is proven to recover typically 80% of oily volume and returning it to a useable form. This not only reduces residual waste volume and associated treatment and disposal costs; but provides the benefit of the value of the oil recovered.

SAS Environmental customers’ face the same challenges of reducing the discharge of oily waste by converting much of it to reusable resource.  In the months to come the requirement to measure and report material that contributes to the Carbon loading will become an increasing requirement and the incentive to Reduce, Reclaim, Recycle and Reuse will never have been more important.

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We now see that the benefits extend from not only reclaiming valuable resource but the equally valuable reduction in GHG emissions associated with conventional treatment and disposal.

This is no better illustrated by the processing of Oily waste at the INEOS site at Grangemouth.

As legislators embrace the needs for reporting of, and reduction of Carbon rich, oily wastes; increased emphasis will be placed on recovery of these ‘wastes’ and turning them into usable, commercially valuable resource.

Saving the planet, one step at a time.

If you have any waste treatment projects you're working on in oil waste then get in touch with us on any one of the many channels that are available. We would love to talk to you and see if we can help you, help the planet.

Find out more about oil sludge treatment in our Case Study by clicking below.