P2 Industry Newsletter – July 2025

Note from the Editor

This month’s newsletter highlights key tools and resources to support your environmental and sustainability goals. We’re diving into the ISO 14000 series of standards, which offer a powerful framework for integrating environmental responsibility into everyday operations. You’ll also find a pollution prevention tip of the month focused on cooling towers, along with curated environmental news to keep you informed of the latest developments.

Don’t miss the upcoming training opportunities at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, where we’ll be offering in-person courses on ISO 50001 (energy management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management) at the end of July. These sessions are ideal for manufacturing professionals and anyone looking to strengthen their sustainability practices through internationally recognized standards.

As the Fourth of July holiday approaches, we want to wish you a safe and relaxing long weekend. We hope this edition brings useful insights and inspiration to your work.

Thanks for reading!

Marly Irby, PhD
Environmental Specialist – Pollution Prevention
Center for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Engineering
East Carolina University

Did You Know?

What is the Safer Choice Program?

The ISO 14000 series is a set of voluntary international standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to help organizations improve their environmental performance. Unlike regulations, these standards are not legally required, but they encourage companies to go beyond compliance.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) represents the U.S. in this global effort. Rather than prescribing specific performance targets, ISO 14000 focuses on how organizations manage their environmental responsibilities. It challenges industry leaders to take proactive steps by integrating pollution prevention principles into their day-to-day operations and long-term planning. By doing so, companies can reduce waste, minimize risks, and make sustainability part of their business culture.

Additional Information

Learn more about ISO 14000 environmental management

Additional Resources

Pollution Prevention Tip of the Month

Did you know the importance of controlling a separate flow meter for your cooling tower and savings?

Cooling towers are used to remove heat from industrial or HVAC processes through evaporative cooling, where water is sprayed over fill material as air flows through the system. Different configurations such as crossflow, counterflow, mechanical draft, and natural draft serve various applications.

To maintain efficiency, it’s essential to monitor water flow accurately, as this ensures proper chemical dosing and helps prevent issues like corrosion, scaling, and biological growth. Installing precise flow meters, such as insertion magnetic meters, enables real-time monitoring without requiring system shutdowns. These meters track flow in makeup, blowdown, and dosing lines, providing critical data to maintain optimal performance. Accurate flow measurement supports better water management, reduces chemical waste, and extends equipment life. It also helps calculate cycles of concentration and evaporation losses. Ultimately, reliable flow data is key to keeping cooling towers operating efficiently and sustainably.

Read more about cooling towers

News & Updates

World Environment Day 2025 mobilizes commitment and action to end plastic pollution globally

World Environment Day 2025, held on June 5 in Jeju, Republic of Korea, focused on the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, calling for urgent, collective action to address the global plastic crisis. With plastic waste now reaching every ecosystem including mountaintops, oceans, and even human breast milk and projected to increase by 50% by 2040, the message was clear: bold steps are needed now.

Governments, industries, communities, and individuals were encouraged to adopt the “5 Rs”: refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, and rethink with an emphasis on upstream solutions and circular economy strategies. Jeju Province showcased its ambitious goal of eliminating single-use plastics by 2040 through initiatives like deposit-return systems and improved waste separation.

This year’s event also coincided with growing momentum ahead of August negotiations toward a legally binding global plastic treaty. Leaders such as UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen underscored the urgent health, environmental, and economic stakes urging the world to “go further, faster” by leveraging policy shifts, innovation, and public engagement.

Read More about World Environment Day

How carbon capture works and the debate about whether it’s a future climate solution

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide from sources like power plants or directly from the air, compressing it, and storing it deep underground in rock formations. It is often promoted as a crucial tool for reducing emissions from heavy industries such as steel and cement. However, in practice, CCS typically captures only about 60% of emissions, significantly less than the commonly cited 90%.

Most captured CO₂ is currently used for enhanced oil recovery, which can extend fossil fuel use rather than reduce it. Critics raise concerns about potential leakage, methane emissions during transport, and whether CCS enables the continued reliance on fossil fuels. With only around 45 commercial CCS facilities operating worldwide capturing just a small fraction of global CO₂ emissions its overall climate impact remains limited. Supporters argue that CCS is a necessary complement to renewable energy, especially for sectors that are difficult to decarbonize. Still, its future depends heavily on government subsidies and incentives, which face political and economic uncertainty.

Some experts and policymakers question whether the high costs and technical limitations of CCS justify large-scale investment. Ultimately, the debate centers on whether CCS helps accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels or delays it.

Upcoming Events

Explore ISO 14001 & 50001 with Our Upcoming Technical Courses

Featuring…Sandra Enciso
Senior Energy and Sustainability Project Manager
Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute

CSE3 in collaboration with Pitt County Economic Development and the Greenville Eastern North Carolina Alliance, is pleased to offer two in-person technical courses on ISO 50001 and ISO 14001.

The courses will take place on July 30 and 31 in Greenville, NC, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM each day.

The instructor is Ms. Sandra Enciso, Senior Energy and Sustainability Project Manager at the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP), Georgia Tech.

The venue for the event is East Carolina University’s Isley Innovation Hub, room 167, and the address is 1000 Wright Cir, Greenville, NC 27858.

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ISO 50001:2018
A Framework Fueling Carbon Neutrality

This course will provide an overview of ISO 50001:2018 and its application in manufacturing.

Ideal for: Energy and EHS professionals working on decarbonization and energy performance.

Key Learning Areas:

• Understanding ISO 50001:2018 requirements
• Identifying and evaluating energy use in operations
• Analyzing energy consumption across processes, equipment, and systems
• Integrate EnMS into other business processes for continuous improvement

Time: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Date: July 30, 2025
Location: East Carolina University, Isley Hub Room #167

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ISO 14001:2015
Building the Sustainable Backbone for Green Industry

Deep dive into ISO 14001:2015 and its role in reducing environmental footprint.

Ideal for: EHS professionals and others seeking to strengthen their knowledge of ISO 14001:2015 requirements.

Key Learning Areas:

• Understanding the structure, intent, and practical application of the standard.
• Identifying and evaluating environmental aspects of operations and their impacts.
• Aligning Environmental Management Systems (EMS) with organizational objectives, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Participants will be treated with a light breakfast and lunch. Certificate will be awarded afterwards upon completion. Parking availability is included with registration.

Time: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Date: July 31, 2025
Location: East Carolina University, Isley Hub Room #167