Green operation management

meaning
Green operation can be called as sustainable operations management.

Sustainability The conventional definition of sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
an enduring, balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress The extent to which sustainability can actually ever be achieved especially at the level of an individual enterprise or industry is through the life cycle of its products.

aspects
Sustainable developement depends on 3 important aspects Green supply chain management Waste management ISO standards

GREEN SUPPLY CHAIN

The term supply chain implies a linear relationship among its participants, it is more accurate to say it is anetwork of processes that performs the functions of procurement of materials, transformation of these materials into intermediate and finished products, and distribution of these finished products to customers.

Thus, supply chain management (SCM) is the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the operations of the supply chain as efficiently as possible. It includes the acquisition, storage, and movement of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point-of-origin to point-of-consumption.

There are two main aspects that differentiate green supply chains from traditional supply chains. Firstly, green supply chain aims to improve the environmental performance of its existing supply chain through environmental monitoring and collaboration through application of environmental technologies. Secondly, the supply chain is augmented to include reverse supply chain management that builds a closed-loop system for the products.

WASTE MANAGEMENT
Various types of wastes such as Municipal or domestic wastes, hazardous wastes, Bio-Medical wastes get generated in power plant areas, plant hospital and the townships of projects. The wastes generated are a number of solid and hazardous wastes like used oils & waste oils, grease, lead acid batteries, empty cylinders (refillable), paper, rubber products, fused lamps & tubes, fire resistant fluids etc.

Municipal Waste Management: Domestic or municipal waste is generated in households at townships. This waste is segregated into bio-degradable and non biodegradable wastes at source itself in different colored containers and thereafter the two types are disposed separately. Hazardous Waste Management: NTPC being a proactive organization, the handling and disposal of hazardous wastes are done as per the Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules 1989 (as amended in 2003) guidelines issued by Government of India for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes.

3R STRATEGY
Reduce means source reduction and waste
prevention Reducing waste does not only mean you have to reduce what you buy, but also to obtain what you need in the most resource-efficient way. Seldom-used items, like certain power tools and party goods, often collect dust, rust, take up valuable storage space, and ultimately end up in the trash.

 RECYCLE
When you've done all you can to avoid waste, recycle. Recycling is the process by which materials are collected and used as raw materials for new products. There are four steps in recycling: collecting the recyclable components of municipal solid waste, separating materials by type, processing them into reusable forms, and purchasing and using the goods made with reprocessed materials.

REPLACE
Nowadays, durable products are not favoured by manufacturers, as they reduced sales. Non-durable goods are produced for short period of consumption and then disposed of and it would certainly waste energy and resources. Therefore, replace non-durable goods by durable goods certainly helps to conserve the environment.

International Quality Standards

ISO 9000 series (Europe/EC)
Common quality standards for products sold in Europe (even if made in U.S.) 2008 update places greater emphasis on leadership and customer requirements and satisfaction

ISO 14000 series (Europe/EC)

ISO 14000 Environmental Standard

Core Elements:
Environmental management
Auditing Performance evaluation Labeling Life cycle assessment

ISO 14000 Environmental Standard

Advantages:
Positive public image and reduced exposure to liability

Systematic approach to pollution prevention

Compliance with regulatory requirements and opportunities for competitive advantage Reduction in multiple audits