To curb air emissions, Carestream invested in technology that reduces volatile organic compounds that can contribute to ground level smog and air pollutants. Carestream’s Rochester manufacturing plant reduced emissions by more than 80% by installing an air emission control device that heats and destroys pollutants.
The company has achieved 50% reduction in energy use over the last four years by replacing selected heating and cooling systems with high-efficiency units, creating programs to turn off equipment when it’s not needed and replacing inefficient lighting.
Carestream also works to control hazardous waste from product manufacturing and maintenance activities. Its Colorado and Oregon manufacturing plants capture solvents that can be reused or that can be recovered and sold for other uses. The Oregon facility has, for example, eliminated the need to purchase 240,000 gallons of solvents a year due to better recovery/reuse practices.
The company further reduces the output of hazardous waste by trimming the use of silver, plastics, and other components in its manufacturing processes. Examples include:
- X-ray film Through capturing and re-using key components, Carestream reduced raw material consumption by 1.2 million pounds per year.
- Phosphor screens used in digital imaging systems Reuse of components avoids 8,000 tons per year of waste that formerly went to landfills.
- Dental film packet – The amount of lead needed to control x-ray scatter has been cut by 20 percent and solvents have been eliminated from the manufacture of the vinyl packet covering.
Carestream also has achieved ISO 14001, an international standard for assessing environmental management systems.
