Alternative Raw Materials
Raw materials have a significant impact upon the nature and quality of the final manufactured product. For many years recycled and waste stream derived materials were specifically excluded, especially aggregates, from use in construction materials such as concretes. Times have changed, and now recycled, recovered and secondary raw materials are an integral part of a “closed loop” or zero waste manufacturing policy.
These alternative raw materials (ARM) can be derived from within a manufacturing or processing process or derived from an external source. They are now regarded as potential resources rather than wastes, and the key to utilisation is understanding how best to assess the composition and how this meets the requirements of the potential end user.
CERAM’s experts have a wealth of experience in establishing desk top screening and production assessment trials for ARMs that become available, specifically when the end use is within the construction materials manufacturing sector. Often these are by-products or recovered materials from a different manufacturing sector and, as such, the knowledge and assessment skills are normally not held within the day-to-day field of expertise of those within the potential end user’s company or sector.
CERAM can therefore help clients to firstly understand the potential benefits of using these ARMs and secondly help generate data that will support the business and technical case prior to production trials.
Often these materials can present one or more of the following benefits:
- Financial
- Environmental/sustainability/resource use optimisation/energy
- Strategic
- Technical
- Marketing/sales
CERAM can provide assistance to clients in assessing all of these as part of an ARM project, or in one specific area, and in the identification of the impacts upon the client’s manufacturing process or resulting emissions.
Waste/Recycled Material Utilisation - WRAP
Recycled glass in sanitaryware manufacture