A GREENER ORGANIC INDUSTRIAL BASE: The Project Director Joint Services team turns waste into valuable products for sustainable munitions production.

The article discusses the importance of sustainable ammunition production and the need to minimize the environmental impact and reliance on materials from overseas. The Army is exploring sustainable production practices, specifically through byproduct synergy, which involves utilizing waste materials generated during the production process as raw materials for other industries or reworking the waste for reuse within the Army's organic industrial base. This approach aims to minimize waste disposal, increase the supply of critical chemicals, and create a circular economy. The Army has successfully converted ammonium nitrate solution into potassium nitrate, addressing supply chain vulnerabilities and contributing to sustainability efforts. Further research is being conducted to explore the potential of processing other waste streams for synthesis of chemicals used by the Department of Defense. Overall, the project demonstrates the Army's commitment to a greener future and a more resilient organic ammunition industrial base. [Extracted from the article]