RFS and the Environment At RFS, eco-sustainability is fundamental to our corporate culture. We reflect our commitment and care for the environment through innovations in our internal operations and our products. As your partner for eco-sustainable telecoms, RFS works with you to protect our planet.
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Our focus: Responsibilities, respect, actions Focusing on eco-sustainable operations Our internal actions reveal the mindset of our people: They are dedicated to caring for the environment, they use innovation to foster eco-sustainable operations and they strive for continuous improvement. Here are just a few examples of our corporate eco-sustainability initiatives around the world.
Reducing our energy consumption
Reducing our carbon footprint
Reusing natural resources and materials
Heat generated by a compressor is captured and diverted to dry newlypainted products (Australia).
Flexible-fuel cars for sales teams reduce our reliance on fossil fuels (Brazil).
Improved water recirculation and water treatment in the cable manufacturing process reduces water consumption (Brazil, China and United States). Sewer water reuse reduces approximately 100 m3 of sewer emissions which represents around 50 m3 of reduction of potable water consumption.
Solar hot water heating in washrooms and showers saves electricity (Australia).
More than 450 trees were planted to offset the CO2 emissions generated by RFS product deliveries (Brazil).
Rapid-roller doors on manufacturing facilities improve heating and cooling retention (Australia).
Worldwide operations and advanced logistical planning reduce transportation requirements for our products (worldwide).
Skylights, energy-efficient lighting, improved insulation and equipment with ENERGY STAR ratings all lower energy consumption (worldwide).
Evapoconcentration units treat the water used to wash products and facilities so that water can be reused (France and United States). A cascade chemical rinse system reduces water consumption and discharge to sewers (Australia).
RFS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Water-soluble oil drums and drums that contained packing materials are returned to the vendor for reuse (United States). A buy-back program encourages customers to return cable drums for reuse or recycling (Germany). Solar energy solutions
Water re-use in Brazil
Caring for the environment in all aspects of our business
RFS President’s Statement At RFS, we share our customers’ commitment to caring for the environment and to keeping costs down. RFS teams around the world are actively engaged in customer and corporate initiatives that reduce our company’s impact on the environment and our customers’ costs. All of our eco-sustainability initiatives are firmly rooted in the “three Rs” – reducing, reusing and recycling:
Recycling production and packing materials Copper, aluminum, brass, scrap metal and electronics leftover from manufacturing is recycled (Brazil, Germany and United States). A UNIbin program ensures proper collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of oily and non-oily nonhazardous solid and semi-solid wastes (United States). The wood from non-reusable cable drums returned by customers is graded and recycled and wood pallets are recycled (Brazil, Germany and United States).
We apply our engineering expertise to develop innovative new products, such as our HYBRIFLEX™ cables and DC-FIT™ converters, that help our customers reduce energy consumption and operating expenditures when upgrading cell sites. Internally, we reuse and recycle the natural resources and materials we consume. In particular, we emphasize recycling the water, metals and wood used to produce and pack our products. We also focus on reducing energy consumption at our facilities. As a manufacturer with global operations, we take advantage of our worldwide presence to reduce transportation requirements for our products. This allows us to lower both carbon emissions and transportation costs. RFS also proactively adopts new materials to replace banned materials long before the mandatory dates. In Europe, RFS will replace the PVC in its products in 2011, well ahead of the European ban, which is expected in 2015. Our vision for the future includes cellular sites powered by wind turbines and solar panels instead of electricity. We have dedicated engineering effort to ensure this vision becomes a reality.
Stéphane Klajzyngier, RFS President Recycled wood from cable drums
RFS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
As we expand our eco-sustainability initiatives, RFS will remain focused on recognizing our responsibilities, respecting the world in which we live and taking actions that benefit both the environment and our customers.
Reducing energy consumption and costs at cell sites
Meeting global standards for safe environmental practices
Installing Remote Radio Heads (RRHs) close to antennas cuts power consumption – typically in half – but means RF transmission, power and grounding cables must all be brought to the RRH on the tower or rooftop. To help operators realize the full benefits of their RRH installations, RFS has developed two innovative offerings:
All RFS facilities are compliant with, or certified to, globally-recognized environmental standards, including:
HYBRIFLEX™, a patent pending hybrid feeder cabling solution for RRHs HYBRIFLEX™ combines optical fiber and DC power for RRHs in a single lightweight aluminum corrugated cable. It allows operators to connect up to three sectors with a single composite optical fiber and power cable. The grounding function is also incorporated in the HYBRIFLEX™ cable.
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS). RFS complies with RoHS requirements and is focusing on lead-free soldering to completely eliminate lead from all products.
DC-FIT™, the world’s first DC converter The DC-FIT™ converter allows existing coaxial feeder cables to be used as RRH power supplies and as housing for the fiber optical data connection. DC-FIT™ eliminates the time and cost of installing a new DC cable run when deploying RRHs.
With RFS’ HYBRIFLEX™ and DC-FIT™, operators can easily and cost effectively upgrade to RRH architectures. They can reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint at cell sites while benefiting from simplified installation, reduced cabling costs and reduced operational expenditures.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001. RFS is ISO 14001-certified and continues to enhance environmental management systems across its facilities.
For more information, please contact the nearest RFS sales office: Southern Europe, Middle East, Africa & India www.rfsworld.com/sales/semeai Northern Europe www.rfsworld.com/sales/euno
Latin America www.rfsworld.com/sales/latam North America www.rfsworld.com/sales/na Asia Pacific www.rfsworld.com/sales/apac
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© Radio Frequency Systems - 02/2011
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). RFS complies with REACH requirements and is actively evaluating its own and its suppliers’ use of chemical substances.