ISO 14001 GNSS Antenna

　　I. The Core Logic of ISO 14001's Relationship with GNSS Antennas

　　Standard Applicable Scenarios

　　GNSS antennas, including Beidou navigation antennas and GPS positioning antennas, are widely used in surveying and exploration, vehicle-mounted positioning, drone navigation, and smart wearable devices. Their entire lifecycle (production phase: ceramic resonator sintering, RF chip soldering, and waterproof sealing packaging; installation phase: mountaintop surveying base station deployment, vehicle antenna integration, and drone antenna assembly; and end-of-life phase: ceramic component disassembly and RF module disposal) presents unique environmental risks, such as the waste of non-degradable ceramic processing waste, VOC emissions from sealants, contamination from high-precision welding slag (containing rare metals), the electronic waste hazards of scrapped RF chips (containing heavy metals), and damage to vegetation during outdoor installation. ISO 14001, through a closed-loop "environmental factor identification - risk control - continuous improvement," covers key aspects such as ceramic resource recycling, VOC management, hazardous waste disposal, and ecological protection, ensuring that environmental compliance is aligned with the demands of high-precision production. Application of Core Terms

　　4.3.1 Environmental Factors: Systematically identify the environmental impacts of the entire GNSS antenna process, including ceramic sintering exhaust (dust/hazardous gases), sealant VOC volatilization, rare metal leakage from welding slag, vegetation damage during mountaintop installation, and electronic pollution from scrapped chips. Key environmental factors must be identified (e.g., ceramic waste recycling, sealant VOC treatment, and RF chip disposal).

　　6.1 Environmental Risk Control: Develop specific measures for key environmental factors, such as ceramic waste recycling and packaging waste gas treatment, to reduce the risks of environmental pollution and resource depletion.

　　8.1 Operational Control: Standardize environmental practices at all stages, such as setting sealant VOC emission limits and clarifying RF chip disposal procedures in compliance with GB 16297 "Comprehensive Emission Standards for Air Pollutants" and the "Regulations on the Management of the Recycling and Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products."

　　10.2 Non-Compliance and Corrective Actions: Develop corrective plans for environmental violations (e.g., mixed storage of ceramic waste) to prevent recurrence (e.g., optimizing sorting processes and adding dedicated ceramic recycling lines). II. Key Environmental Control Points for the GNSS Antenna Full Process

　　Manufacturing

　　Core environmental risks include: ceramic waste generated from ceramic vibrator processing (cutting/sintering) (non-degradable, wasteful), welding slag from high-precision soldering of RF chips (containing silver/tin, hazardous waste), VOC emissions from sealants used for waterproof packaging (silicone/polyurethane), and injection molded housing scraps (non-degradable plastic pollution). In accordance with ISO 14001 requirements, control measures are as follows:

　　Ceramic Resource Recycling: Establish a dedicated recycling area for ceramic waste, separating and storing it by purity (high-purity ceramics are used for vibrator recycling, and low-purity ceramics are used for ceramic aggregate production). Collaborate with ceramic recycling companies to achieve a closed-loop "crushing-pulping-reburning" process, with a target recovery rate of ≥90%. Optimize the ceramic cutting process (using laser cutting) to reduce waste generation (control the waste rate to less than 3%). VOC and welding slag management: "Local exhaust + activated carbon adsorption + molecular sieve purification" devices are installed at packaging stations to ensure VOC emission concentrations are ≤50mg/m³ (better than the requirements of GB 16297). Low-VOC silicone sealants (VOC content ≤100g/L) are preferred over traditional solvent-based sealants. Welding slag is stored separately in leak-proof, designated "hazardous waste" containers. Rare metals (such as silver) are regularly extracted and disposed of harmlessly by qualified hazardous waste disposal facilities.

　　Plastic and solid waste management: Injection molded housing scraps (such as PC/ABS) are crushed and blended with new material (blending ratio ≤15%) for use in the production of non-critical structural components (such as antenna mounting brackets). Degradable bioplastics (such as PBAT/PLA blends) are preferred for small GNSS antenna housings to reduce non-degradable plastic pollution. During the on-site installation phase, the main environmental risks include: vegetation destruction/soil compaction (ecological impacts) from outdoor GNSS mapping base station installation (e.g., mountaintop/field deployment), small electronic waste (e.g., discarded RF cables) generated from vehicle-mounted antenna assembly, and the careless disposal of packaging waste (e.g., anti-static foam/aluminum foil bags) from drone antenna installation. Control measures include:

　　Ecological protection: Conduct an ecological assessment before mountaintop/field installation to avoid native vegetation and wildlife habitats; utilize minimally invasive installation methods (e.g., movable mapping supports to avoid ground excavation); and if temporary land occupation is required, clear the site and sow native grass seeds (e.g., tall fescue) within 72 hours of installation to restore vegetation cover (restoration rate ≥ 95%). Waste Separation and Recycling: Installers are provided with separate recycling bags for "ceramics/electronics/plastics/paper." Recyclable materials, such as anti-static foam and aluminum foil bags, are transported back to the company for disposal by a recycling agency. Small electronic waste from vehicle/drone antenna assemblies (such as discarded chips and cables) is collected separately and prohibited from mixing with household waste. It is regularly handed over to an electronic waste disposal agency for disposal.

　　Maintenance and Disposal

　　Core environmental risks include: the mixed disposal of ceramic oscillators (non-degradable) and RF chips (containing heavy metals) from discarded GNSS antennas (waste of resources and electronic pollution), and the indiscriminate disposal of used sealants (containing hazardous chemicals) used for maintenance. Strict compliance with the "Regulations on the Management of the Recycling and Treatment of Waste Electrical and Electronic Products" is required. Control measures are as follows:

　　Scrap, Disassembly, and Recycling: Establish a dedicated disassembly process for GNSS antennas, first separating the ceramic vibrator, RF chip, and metal bracket. After cleaning and testing, high-quality ceramic vibrators are repackaged for reuse, while low-quality ones are sent to ceramic recycling companies for processing. RF chips are sent to qualified companies for low-temperature pyrolysis to extract precious metals (such as gold/silver) and treat heavy metals (such as lead/cadmium). Metal brackets are derusted and recycled.

　　Used Sealant Disposal: Used sealant (containing chemical curing agents) from maintenance and replacement should be collected separately in sealed containers and incinerated at high temperatures (equipped with flue gas purification equipment) at hazardous waste disposal facilities to prevent chemical substances from leaching into the soil or water. III. Enterprise Certification Practices and Results

　　Practical Results

　　After obtaining ISO 14001 certification, some GNSS antenna manufacturers have established a full-process environmental management system. Their ceramic waste recycling rate has increased from 75% to 92%, reducing ceramic resource consumption by approximately 25 tons annually. VOC emissions from sealants have been consistently controlled below 40mg/m³, with no environmental penalties incurred. By using biodegradable plastics and recycling scrap, they have reduced their use of non-degradable plastics by approximately 18 tons annually. Due to their environmental compliance and green production capabilities, they have received priority purchasing status from high-end clients in industries such as surveying and mapping, drones, and automotive electronics, resulting in an 18%-22% increase in order conversion rates and a reduction in solid waste disposal costs (saving approximately 150,000 yuan annually). Common Non-Compliances

　　VOC emissions exceeded standards during the packaging process (violating ISO 14001 Section 8.1, failure to promptly replace activated carbon adsorption materials or use high-VOC sealants);

　　Ceramic waste mixed with household waste (not complying with Section 6.1, "Resource Cycle Control," and failure to implement specific ceramic recycling requirements);

　　Scrapped GNSS antenna RF chips mixed with general solid waste (missing the corrective action mechanism in Section 10.2, and failure to establish a specific chip disassembly process);

　　Failure to restore vegetation after field installation (violating ecological protection requirements and failure to implement Section 8.1, "On-site Environmental Restoration").

　　IV. Implementation Recommendations

　　Quantification and Optimization of Environmental Factors: Utilize the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method to quantify the carbon footprint and resource consumption of the GNSS antenna throughout its entire lifecycle, from "ceramic mining - sintering - production - installation - scrapping." Prioritize optimizing high-impact processes (such as ceramic sintering and sealant VOCs), and set phased targets (such as a 10% annual carbon emission reduction and an increase in ceramic recycling rate to 95%). Digital Environmental Monitoring: A real-time monitoring system was established to monitor dust concentrations in the ceramic sintering workshop, VOC concentrations in the packaging station, and the amount of RF welding slag recovered 24/7. Any abnormal data will be automatically alerted to environmental management personnel to ensure timely rectification.

　　Green Supply Chain Collaboration: ISO 14001 requirements are incorporated into supplier management, prioritizing suppliers of low-VOC sealants, recyclable ceramic raw materials, and bioplastics. "Waste Recycling Agreements" were signed with upstream ceramic companies to achieve a "procurement-production-recycling" cycle for ceramic raw materials, mitigating environmental risks in the supply chain.

　　Enhancing Ecological Protection Capabilities: Targeting field installation scenarios, the "GNSS Antenna Outdoor Installation Ecological Protection Guide" was developed, clarifying the ecological assessment process, minimally invasive installation standards, and vegetation restoration requirements. Installation teams were equipped with ecological protection tools (such as portable seed drills and soil remediation agents) to minimize environmental disturbances during field operations. Cost reduction through technological innovation: Research and development of green production technologies, such as the use of 3D printing technology to manufacture ceramic resonators (reducing the scrap rate to less than 1%) and the development of VOC-free UV-curing sealants (reducing VOC emissions by 90%), achieving a win-win situation in environmental benefits and production costs through technological upgrades.