Low carbon dining
As the industry faces pressure over high energy use in production,
ceramic manufacturer, Dudson, UK, has responded with what it claims to
be green ceramic tableware in a bid to reduce their carbon footprint.
Manufacturing ceramics is traditionally energy intensive. The Evolution range, which uses a lower temperature system, has a 79% lower carbon footprint than standard ceramic tableware and porcelain, according to the company.
Operations Director, Mark Dudson explains, ‘The carbon calculation takes into account comparative firing temperatures and kiln types.’
The product, which is manufactured using a ThermECO body and ThermECO glaze, works by reducing the firing temperature, lowering energy use and CO2 emissions.
The company, in partnership with Endeka Ceramics, has developed the ceramic body to be manufactured using a once-fired system instead of the typical twice-fired process, allowing the glaze to be fired during the same firing cycle that is used to mature, or vitrify, the body.
Although once-fire technology is not new, Dudson claim its use at 100ºC lower than existing systems is unique in delivering a technically durable product.The method does not require any modification to the heat cycle but simply eliminates the second glost, so that CO2 emissions are further reduced.
Another shift in production has been the use of unleaded glaze flux and Dudson suggests the need for an industry-wide shift, ‘Lead is toxic and can, if not handled properly, cause health issues in the factory and, in rare cases, for the end-user. Of course, a few tableware manufacturers do still use lead but unleaded should now be a basic requirement of all tableware,’ he adds.Clay Technology Magazine, 16 Apr 2010
Manufacturing ceramics is traditionally energy intensive. The Evolution range, which uses a lower temperature system, has a 79% lower carbon footprint than standard ceramic tableware and porcelain, according to the company.
Operations Director, Mark Dudson explains, ‘The carbon calculation takes into account comparative firing temperatures and kiln types.’
The product, which is manufactured using a ThermECO body and ThermECO glaze, works by reducing the firing temperature, lowering energy use and CO2 emissions.
The company, in partnership with Endeka Ceramics, has developed the ceramic body to be manufactured using a once-fired system instead of the typical twice-fired process, allowing the glaze to be fired during the same firing cycle that is used to mature, or vitrify, the body.
Although once-fire technology is not new, Dudson claim its use at 100ºC lower than existing systems is unique in delivering a technically durable product.The method does not require any modification to the heat cycle but simply eliminates the second glost, so that CO2 emissions are further reduced.
Another shift in production has been the use of unleaded glaze flux and Dudson suggests the need for an industry-wide shift, ‘Lead is toxic and can, if not handled properly, cause health issues in the factory and, in rare cases, for the end-user. Of course, a few tableware manufacturers do still use lead but unleaded should now be a basic requirement of all tableware,’ he adds.Clay Technology Magazine, 16 Apr 2010
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