SPX Flow adopts AI-driven Life Cycle Assessment system to standardize sustainability metrics – Filtration and Separation

SPX Flow Implements Life Cycle Assessment to Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction to the Sustainability Initiative

SPX Flow has initiated a partnership with Footprint Intelligence to implement a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for its products. This strategic move aims to enhance environmental performance tracking and reporting, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative establishes a new benchmark for environmental transparency in manufacturing, providing customers with verifiable data on the sustainability of SPX Flow technologies.

Methodology and Alignment with SDG 12

The environmental performance analysis will be conducted using the Footprint Intelligence platform, which employs a cradle-to-gate model. This approach aligns with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by ensuring sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources throughout the product lifecycle.

• Scope: The assessment covers the entire process from material sourcing and production to the point of shipment from SPX Flow facilities.
• Technology: The platform utilizes life cycle data and AI technology to ensure accountable and verifiable reporting, moving beyond self-reported metrics.

Key Metrics and Environmental Impact Assessment

The LCA process will gather extensive data to evaluate the company’s environmental footprint, supporting efforts under SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 12. This detailed data collection enables a thorough assessment of environmental impacts across multiple critical categories.

Data Collection Points

• Materials
• Energy Consumption
• Water Usage
• Resource Consumption
• Transportation
• Waste Generation

Assessed Impact Categories

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Ozone Depletion
• Toxicity
• Water and Resource Use

Strategic Objectives and Contribution to SDG 9

By adopting a third-party standard, SPX Flow seeks to establish a credible and consistent framework for sustainability reporting. This commitment to innovation in environmental measurement supports SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure by promoting sustainable industrial practices and fostering technological upgrades.

1. Enhance Customer Confidence: To provide customers with trusted, verifiable data confirming that products are designed with both performance and environmental sustainability in mind.
2. Establish Industry Benchmark: To create a new standard for environmental measurement and communication within the manufacturing sector.
3. Promote Transparency: To increase credibility and advance sustainability across the industry by utilizing accountable, third-party verified data.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus on environmental performance, resource management, and transparent reporting in manufacturing links to the following SDGs:

   • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article revolves around a company’s efforts to analyze, measure, and report on the environmental impact of its production processes, from material sourcing to waste generation.
   • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The article discusses a manufacturing company (industry) adopting a new technology platform (innovation) to upgrade its processes and make them more sustainable and resource-efficient (sustainable infrastructure).
   • SDG 13: Climate Action: The initiative explicitly aims to assess impacts on “greenhouse gas emissions,” which is a core component of climate action and mitigation efforts.
   • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The company’s Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) process will gather detailed data on “water use” and assess its impact, directly relating to the sustainable management of water resources.
   • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The analysis includes gathering data on “energy use,” which is a fundamental step towards improving energy efficiency and promoting cleaner energy in industrial processes.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the specific actions and goals described in the article, the following targets can be identified:

   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The article supports this by stating the platform will analyze “material sourcing,” “resource consumption,” and “water and resource use.”
   • Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” This is addressed by the company’s plan to gather detailed data on “waste” as part of its LCA process.
   • Target 12.6: “Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.” The article directly reflects this target, as SPX Flow “aims to establish a more consistent and credible approach to sustainability reporting” and bring “greater transparency by using accountable, verifiable data.”
   • Target 9.4: “By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes…” The adoption of the “Footprint Intelligence platform” using “life cycle data and AI technology” to analyze environmental performance is a clear example of retrofitting industry with environmentally sound technology to increase resource-use efficiency.
   • Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors…” The initiative’s focus on gathering “detailed data on… water use” is a foundational step for managing and increasing water-use efficiency in its manufacturing sector.
   • Target 7.3: “By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.” By collecting detailed data on “energy use,” the company is creating the necessary baseline to measure and improve its energy efficiency.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Yes, the article explicitly mentions several metrics and data points that serve as direct indicators for measuring progress towards the identified targets.

   • Quantitative Data Metrics: The article states, “The LCA process will gather detailed data on materials, energy and water use, resource consumption, transportation and waste.” These are direct, measurable indicators.
     • Energy use: Measures progress towards Target 7.3.
     • Water use: Measures progress towards Target 6.4.
     • Materials and resource consumption: Measures progress towards Target 12.2.
     • Waste generation: Measures progress towards Target 12.5.
   • Impact Assessment Categories: The article mentions that the collected metrics will help assess impacts across specific categories, which also serve as indicators. These include:
     • Greenhouse gas emissions: A key indicator for SDG 13 (Climate Action).
     • Ozone depletion, toxicity, water and resource use: These are indicators of the overall environmental footprint, relevant to SDG 12 and SDG 9.
   • Process and Reporting Indicators: The adoption of a “third-party standard” and the use of “accountable, verifiable data” for sustainability reporting are qualitative but crucial indicators of progress towards Target 12.6.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production	12.2: Sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation. 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and reporting.	Data on material sourcing and resource consumption. Data on waste generation. Adoption of a third-party standard for reporting; use of accountable, verifiable data.
   SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable and resource-efficient.	Adoption of LCA and AI technology platform. Metrics on resource-use efficiency (energy, water, materials).
   SDG 13: Climate Action	13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.	Data on greenhouse gas emissions.
   SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation	6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.	Detailed data on water use.
   SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.	Detailed data on energy use.

Source: filtsep.com