E67: You would not believe how much water went into making your iPhone
Oct 31, 2024
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Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of Gradient, dives into the staggering reality of industrial water consumption and contamination. He shares how Gradient tackles these issues through innovative, outcome-driven solutions, including cutting-edge methods to purify water and eliminate forever chemicals like PFAS. Their approach emphasizes the importance of corporate responsibility in conserving this vital resource. Anurag’s passion for sustainable practices shines as he highlights the hidden water footprints of consumer electronics, urging transparency and eco-conscious choices.
Industrial water usage significantly contributes to global pollution, with trillions of gallons contaminated daily, highlighting the need for sustainable practices.
Gradient's innovative technologies focus on recycling industrial water and breaking down PFAS, providing effective solutions for reducing environmental impact.
Deep dives
The Hidden Impact of Industrial Water Use
Industrial water use accounts for nearly 20% of global water consumption, leading to the pollution of trillions of gallons of water daily with harmful chemicals, dyes, and heavy metals. This underlines the significant ecological footprint of industrial activities, often overlooked in discussions surrounding the climate crisis. Water is essential not only for drinking and sanitation but also for critical industrial processes in sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing and pharmaceuticals. Recognizing the pervasive and often detrimental impact of contaminated water can help focus efforts on sustainable and cleaner water practices.
Innovative Approaches to Water Recycling
Gradient focuses on recycling and reusing industrial water, addressing the challenges posed by highly contaminated sources. The company's unique approach allows industries to effectively clean and repurpose wastewater, significantly minimizing their water consumption while reducing environmental impact. For example, semiconductor manufacturing facilities can recycle up to 99% of their water usage, turning a substantial waste problem into an opportunity for resource conservation. This economically viable method of water management is crucial for industries aiming to lower their ecological footprints.
Tackling Forever Chemicals in Water
Gradient is developing advanced methods to tackle the pervasive issue of PFAS, often referred to as 'forever chemicals,' which have accumulated in water supplies and living organisms. The innovative process developed by Gradient not only concentrates these harmful substances but also renders them harmless through a specialized system that breaks down PFAS compounds. This solution empowers industries to eliminate the threat of contamination while effectively restoring the quality of water resources. With increasing regulatory pressure, such innovative technologies could become essential for businesses aiming to comply with environmental standards and protect public health.
Usually on the show we talk about carbon-emitting sectors, but today we’re talking about one of the planet’s most precious resources: water. Specifically, industrial water, which is used in staggering amounts, horribly contaminated, and sometimes just put right back into the environment. Anurag Bajpayee, CEO of Gradiant, discusses the company's technology-driven end-to-end water solutions and their goal to conserve water for future generations and give nature its water back. Gradiant's approach is practical, driven by the outcome of cleaning and recycling water, rather than a specific technology or innovation (although there are plenty of innovations), and their latest achievement is a process to concentrate and destroy PFAS—aka, forever chemicals.