In June 2019, the UK became the first major country to legislate for a Net zero target for carbon emissions by 2050.
Most Porvair products contribute to a cleaner world by reducing emissions, improving process efficiencies or identifying pollutants.
Moving towards net zero is consistent with the Group’s fundamental aim to develop specialist filtration and environmental technology business for the benefit of all stakeholders
Climate related and Net zero planning framework
Net zero is consistent with the Group’s fundamental aim to develop specialist filtration, laboratory and environmental technology businesses for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Our strategic thinking is based on the following planning assumptions for 2020 – 2040:
- Aircraft will run more efficiently, on a combination of greener fuel and electricity.
- Auto and light truck transport will move towards battery or hydrogen power.
- Oil derivatives will still be used for the production of chemicals or critical materials. Carbon Capture and Storage technologies will develop to better balance the carbon release from fossil fuels.
- Electricity generation will move to solar, wind and nuclear power.
- Industrial plants will seek to eliminate the direct use of fossil fuels
- Emissions standards across industry will tighten.
- ‘Dematerialisation’ trends will lead to the growth of internet based commerce and communication.
Risk and opportunities for Porvair
Risks – Some of our markets are likely to decline as climate related and Net zero activities accelerate. Our strategy in such areas is to manage this decline and find alternative revenue streams. Markets served that may be affected include:
- Internal combustion engine components and castings:
- Filters for petro-chemical processing that will fall in step with the demand for fossil fuels,
- Demand for certain polymers
Opportunities – Porvair products reduce emissions both directly and indirectly. Directly, many of our industrial filters capture hydrocarbon by-products for later treatment or sequestration. Indirectly, Porvair filters protect critical industrial equipment, prolong asset life and improve efficiency. Our filters clean fluids, gases and molten metals to allow higher quality production with less scrap and lower input costs. Many of these applications will grow as climate related and Net zero activities develop:
- Aluminium usage is expected to rise as its lightweight and fully recyclable properties are recognised.
- There will be a move to recyclable or re-usable laboratory consumables.
- In aerospace, Net zero planning is considering airspace and operational improvements; fleet upgrades with new aircraft technology; and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuels.
- In industrial processing, the need for cleaner working environments and higher purity raw materials will increase, leading to greater demand for water purity and air quality.
- Pressure to reduce all emissions (beyond carbon) will drive demand for wider filtration products.
Porvair’s expertise has an important role to play in addressing key environmental challenges.
Porvair’s expertise has an important role to play in addressing key environmental challenges
Clean water analysis
The market for clean water and environmental testing is growing throughout the world as more of the world’s population seeks access to clean water and environmental regulations tighten. The Group’s water analysis equipment ensures drinking water is fit for consumption and waste water is not contaminated.
Light-weight sustainable metals
As the world strives for a more fuel efficient and recyclable future, aluminium is a big part of the solution. Light-weight, strong and highly recyclable, value-added aluminium products can lower energy costs and reduce plastic consumption in dozens of applications. Porvair’s CSX™ filters deliver a better environmental profile and improved filtration compared with the competition with lower risk of inclusions passing into the metal.
Reducing marine pollution
Porvair’s advanced filters for shipping prevent organic material from re-entering the ocean when ballast water is pumped out. These systems are required on all large ships to meet International Maritime Organisation (IMO) ballast water regulations.
Filtration solutions for energy & industrial processes
The Group provides filtration solutions for energy and industrial process applications. Our filters are to be found in many of the harshest industrial environments. Applications include high temperature gas filtration and the containment of waste nuclear material.
Actions and investment priorities
Reduction in the direct use of fossil fuels
Direct use of fossil fuels
Porvair uses furnaces in its operations in the manufacture of ceramics, sintered metal and glass products. Most metal sintering is carried out either in electric vacuum furnaces or hydrogen furnaces, however natural gas is used for glass production and ceramic filter production. Gas furnaces could be replaced with large electric furnaces for ceramic firing but the cost and quality implications of such a switch are not fully understood for the time being. Currently there is no viable alternative to the open flame burners required for the glass furnaces.
Various Porvair plants use gas boilers for heating. Other available technologies will be considered as capital investments are assessed
Raw materials made from fossil fuels
Porvair has two main categories of raw material made from fossil fuels:
- Precursor foam and organic binders used in the manufacture of ceramic filters for molten metal. The Group seeks to develop filters that use different precursors and has switched several customers to alternatives.
- Technical plastics used in labware products. The Group is investing in labware re-use systems and glassware alternatives. Where plastics are selected for their technical characteristics (such as cleanliness or chemical inertness), investments are directed to reduce manufacturing scrap and energy use.
Continuous energy reduction strategies
Porvair seeks to make steady improvements to its manufacturing efficiency. Often this will be accompanied by the use of newer and more fuel-efficient equipment. The Group has:
- Installed LED lighting throughout its plants;
- Acquired servo assisted presses rather than hydraulic presses,
- Made increasing use of recycling rather than landfill disposal.
In the future, the Group will:
- Use technological advances to install more energy efficient equipment as old machines are retired.
- Replace car and van fleets with electric vehicles as they become more economical.
Sustainable electricity supplies
The Group uses a biomass electricity supplier to provide the electricity to its UK plants. It expects in time to be able to source sustainable electricity for all of its plants, including the possibility of limited solar and wind generation at its own facilities.
"Most Porvair products contribute to a cleaner world by reducing emissions, improving process efficiencies or identifying pollutants"