ABB introduces EcoSolutions™, an initiative to help customers make more sustainable decisions by increasing transparency on the environmental impact of the entire product lifecycle.
As more governments and corporations commit to emission reduction goals for 2030 and 2050, topics like sustainability, circularity and carbon footprints have gone beyond labels and are now important factors across the lifecycles of most products. It has become more important to understand the environmental impacts of each aspect of the value chain, from initial design through to disposal.
EcoSolutions is an ABB program aimed at providing transparency on the environmental impact of a product across its entire lifetime. Currently rolled out across IE5 and IE6 Synchronous Reluctance (SynRM) motors within the low-voltage IEC motors range, including the new IE5 SynRM Increased Safety range, a QR code on the nameplate provides instantaneous access to information regarding the product’s Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) and circularity KPIs.
Many companies are turning to EPD, which are third-party life cycle assessments, based on the ISO 14025 standard, of the environmental impact of a product. EPDs are reports that include information on the environmental impact of the product, from the extraction process of materials to the final manufactured product. EPDs provide more transparency to allow companies to better assess and compare the sustainability of their suppliers.
Produced in facilities powered by renewable energy, ABB motors are manufactured with 29 per cent recycled materials and low-carbon copper. The SynRM motors are magnet-free and do not use rare earth metals. This makes maintenance easier, as there are no rotor bars that make disassembly difficult, and also means the manufacturing process has less toxic impact on the environment. The lack of rotor bars inside the motor also means SynRM motors are lighter than permanent magnet motors of the same size, allowing for easier installation in hard-to-access areas.
Product efficiency is also a part of sustainability. ABB ultra-premium efficiency IE5 SynRM motors have best-in-class efficiency, leading to lower energy consumption and less carbon emissions. Other benefits, such as reduced bearing temperatures, lead to more durability and prolonged motor lifetime, which reduces overall consumption.
The working lifetime of a motor averages more than 20 years, but sustainability also means considering how a product will be disposed once it is decommissioned. ABB SynRM motors are 90 per cent recyclable, and have clear end-of-life instructions for disassembly and re-use.
By integrating sustainability into product design and performance metrics, ABB is committed to empowering customers to make responsible choices towards a more sustainable future. Find out more about EcoSolutions from ABB here.
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