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In the heart of the Midwest, a factory has emblazoned its mission statement, “Treat nature as a guest,” on its sign - symbolizing a profound shift in environmental responsibility among manufacturers. This marks a significant revolution in their mindset. Beyond merely enhancing efficiency, the factory is now dedicated to balancing operational performance with environmental stewardship, fostering sustainable relationships with the local community.
Transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy often highlights the manufacturing industries first, due to their significant resource consumption and waste generation. Despite this, many manufacturers still view green transformation as a burden, failing to recognize its long-term benefits. The primary impetus for green transformation currently stems from market demands and specific, quantifiable standards.
Even businesses with environmental management system certifications typically aim only to meet government and market requirements, without appreciating the true value of green transformation. In reality, green practices save energy and raw materials, reduce production costs, and provide a competitive advantage as customers increasingly favor environmentally friendly products.
Advancing green transformation not only enhances export values but also improves the product value chain. Green products incorporate recycled materials, natural resources, or by-products from previous stages, optimizing resources and boosting product value.
A green factory operates efficiently, optimizes resource and energy consumption, and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this requires integrating sustainable building architecture, construction materials, and operating equipment. Implementing green factory principles based on lean manufacturing and standards such as LEED, LOTUS, and EDGE optimizes operations, enhances business efficiency, and improves working conditions.
The factory, considered the "heart of the supply chain," must be set up correctly from the start to enhance competitiveness and ensure sustainable development. Traditional goals like quality, productivity, delivery time, and production costs must now encompass safety, environmental impact, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, social responsibility, and green products.
Green factories require an environmental management system to assess operational efficiency and prevent greenwashing. This system evaluates transformation results, enhances performance, and mitigates resource consumption and emissions. Companies that adopt standard environmental management systems generally possess more effective and extensive internal resources.
Amid rising pollution and stringent trade barriers, businesses face challenges in maintaining production and adapting factories to new standards. Small and medium enterprises in Vietnam, with their limited capacity and resources, need government and association support for green transformation.
Transforming factories and production processes necessitates not only general models and standards but also customization to the specific characteristics of the Vietnamese industry. This requires the involvement of organizations knowledgeable about Vietnamese technology and production activities within the broader manufacturing industry context.
AN 867 is a high-rise development project located in a residential area in western Mexico City. The project was conceived with the desire to create a flexible space that uses sustainable materials such as concrete and natural pine wood. The building is situated on a 268 m² plot, featuring four floors of apartments and two underground parking levels. With an entrance lobby slightly below street level that connects with the parking levels, this area offers a private space with lush greenery for building occupants.
Redeveloping existing buildings is increasingly favored over demolition to reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. In the case of Fellenoord 15, the current building was difficult to access and no longer met the needs of a changing and expanding workforce.
AKIN has been announced as the winning team in the Barangaroo Harbour Park Design Competition, a project that will reshape Sydney’s central waterfront area. Through their designs, the team will integrate Indigenous knowledge systems with landscape architecture, regenerative design, public art, and spaces that connect Indigenous communities on a large scale. Additionally, the park will serve as a site for Gadigal hunting, fishing, and gathering practices.
Adhering to the functional services of the original hospital design, the renovation has tripled the scale of Clinica Girona, expanded its range of specialized departments, and set a pioneering example in Catalonia's private healthcare sector. Clínica Girona embodies innovation, efficiency, sustainability, and inclusivity, fostering an environment committed to the well-being of each individual it serves.
The building is located on Queensway, opposite the iconic Whitley department store, which is also being redesigned by Foster + Partners as part of a larger redevelopment plan. Named The William, after William Whiteley, the project features six floors of office spaces, shops, and 32 new homes, with nearly half of the residences designated as affordable housing.
Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the presence of the new museum building not only celebrates the cultural and artistic design values of the area but also provides refreshing experiences through core green values.