国产麻豆

Conveyor and power transmission belts support waste management.
By Caitlin Krc

The U.S. produces more than 12 percent of the planet鈥檚 trash, though it is home to only 4 percent of the world鈥檚 population, according to Environment America Research & Policy Center. So, it is no surprise that consumers, retailers, and regulators are applying pressure on companies to minimize waste, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. Additionally, the focus on sustainability鈥攑artly fueled through national, regional, and even local legislation like the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act鈥攈as companies re-examining all avenues to reduce carbon footprint.

According to Deloitte鈥檚 2025 Manufacturing Industry Outlook, companies have continued to make cautious, targeted investments in adding lower-carbon options to their product lines and seem to be maintaining commitments to the adoption of clean technologies. The momentum behind Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs continues to grow, with more and more states implementing or expanding program developments and new legislation. For manufacturers and waste management companies alike, automation may offer an unexpected pathway to improving the sustainability of their operations. Particularly, conveyor and power transmission belts used in automated equipment can help companies minimize waste on multiple fronts鈥攆rom using recycled material in composition to offering high-performance in challenging applications for solid waste sorting and processing.

Designing for Durability Diverts Material from Landfill
As international businesses embrace the circular economy, they must aim to minimize waste and pollution through recycling, reuse, and refurbishment. Conveyor and power transmission belts play an often-overlooked opportunity to support a multi-faceted approach in diverting more waste from the landfill. For waste management firms and companies that facilitate their own waste management, it is important to have conveying solutions tailored to their optical and manual sorting and separation processes. This means implementing conveyor belts that are chemical and oil resistant, flame retardant, and meet the load requirement of heavy product transfer鈥攁ll of which necessitate complex material science to maximize belt durability and longevity to reduce replacement and disposal needs over the lifetime of the equipment or facility.

Meanwhile, power transmission belts, including rubber, polyurethane, and PVC belts, feature materials with strong bonds for resistance to chemicals, oils, and caustic compounds, as well as physical damage from metal and glass. These types of belts can be found in production and material recovery operations.

Material Science to Minimize Replacements and Waste
Designing products in an energy-efficient way using environmentally friendly materials is integral to reaching sustainability goals. Eco-friendly belting solutions, partially made from vegetable sources, can reduce CO2聽footprint and the usage of fossil-based raw materials. Material science behind such belts ensures equal performance as with regular belts, while reducing the environmental impact. Longevity and durability of equipment is of outmost importance when it comes to minimizing waste.

Additionally, companies that already manage their own waste streams from production may become increasingly responsible for the management of post-consumer waste. EPR legislation is adding to the pressure companies face to transform waste into useful materials that are essential for manufacturing new products. The holistic approach to sustainability should be reflected company-wide through various initiatives and practices whose progress is tracked and detailed in the annual sustainability report.

Recycled Plastics in Conveyor Belting
Using recycled plastics in conveyor belt manufacturing offers waste and recycling operations a tangible way to reduce their environmental impact. By diverting post-consumer plastics from landfills and reintroducing them into industrial applications, these belts help lower carbon emissions associated with raw material extraction and processing. In some jurisdictions, the use of recycled materials can also contribute toward CO2 credit eligibility or support reporting under sustainability frameworks. For companies aiming to align with circular economy goals, recycled-content belting supports both operational durability and environmental accountability.

Sustainability Requires Worker Safety
No operation is sustainable if it is not supporting worker wellbeing and safety. As part of Industry 5.0 and sustainability initiatives, it is crucial to design belts and machinery that coexist with workers and minimize injuries or straining. In belting particularly, there are 鈥減inch points鈥� where workers鈥� hands can get caught between moving components. Minimizing this exposure, alongside lowering noise levels, are some of the considerations when assessing employee safety in the workplace. Dampening noise levels to improve employee comfort and decreasing the main hazards present in belt manufacturing (which include exposure to chemicals and risks involving heavy machinery) are all crucial to actualizing sustainability goals.

Aligned Commitment to Sustainability
As American manufacturers and waste management firms drive toward a more sustainable future, working with like-minded suppliers is a must. Working closely with a supplier that can design and manufacture customized conveying solutions to support sustainability goals through their composition and longevity is a good first step. Working with a local partner that can do all that while shortening lead times and shipping distances to reduce downtime and carbon footprint is an even better one.

Conscientious companies can also consider the credentials of their suppliers. The Ecovadis Gold Certification is an example of an industry recognition that is given only to the top 5 percent of sustainability-focused companies, and it vouches for a dedication to sustainability through using recyclable materials, creating durable products, and adhering to green processes. Beyond that, it also guarantees partners鈥� commitment to sustainability and continuous, incremental innovation to ascertain it.

All of these considerations can add up to belting solutions that maximize the potential for automated equipment to minimize waste and support wider sustainability initiatives. | WA

Caitlin Krc is Director of Product Management, Modular Americas, at AMMEGA, a global leader in conveyor and power transmission belting solutions, delivering innovation, reliability, and sustainability to a vast global installed base across a diverse range of end markets, including Food and Beverage, E-commerce, Logistics, Paper, Print, Mobility, and Consumer Goods.聽Founded in 2018 through the merger of Ammeraal Beltech and Megadyne, AMMEGA has grown both organically and through strategic acquisitions, capitalizing on the increasing market demand driven by industrial automation secular growth trends. With a global presence spanning over 190 locations in more than 40 countries, AMMEGA聽proudly serves end customers, OEMs, and distributors worldwide. Its robust global supply chain ensures the timely delivery of mission-critical products to the right place at the right time.聽聽

For more information, contact Milica Tallier at [email protected].

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