A Complete Guide To Sustainable Manufacturing And It’s Benefits

When you think of sustainable manufacturing, what comes to mind? Is it switching the lights off when you leave a room and recycling your rubbish in the staff kitchen?

The truth is that sustainable manufacturing goes a lot deeper than that.

Let’s find out how you can get greener…

What is sustainable manufacturing?

Sustainable manufacturing is the process of creating new products while minimising environmental impacts.

In an ideal world, manufacturing would be fully sustainable end-to-end, but it isn’t, and it can be complex to get it right. In the midst of the climate emergency, businesses need to balance their vision for a greener future with their short-term finances and strategy.

Any changes a company makes toward sustainable manufacturing must meet the needs of the business, the local community, and its employees. For instance, if a company implements a fully automated process that may be more environmentally friendly, it might displace some of its team, which could lead to slower economic growth in the local community.

Making your manufacturing company more sustainable is a delicate balance, but if you get it right, it can be highly beneficial.

What are the benefits of sustainable manufacturing?

Although process changes can be challenging and require significant planning, making your company greener can be highly beneficial.

Using cleaner materials and less harsh chemicals can improve your employees’ quality of life and provide a safer work environment, while manufacturing innovations can also make your team more efficient.

You may also find that having sustainable processes in place means you’re seen as a favourable business to work with, as other companies around you move to more greener ways of working.

There are many government initiatives in place, including the Net Zero Wales plan for the Welsh economy, aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Aligning with these will help you be seen as a more progressive, forward-thinking business.

How can businesses become more sustainable?

There are many changes you can make to reduce your carbon footprint, but your first step will be to get everyone on the same page, including your senior leadership team, which can be challenging.

• Companies can optimise their processes to reduce energy and natural resource consumption by adopting greener alternatives and more eco-friendly materials.
• Although costly at first, investing in new technology that optimises how your materials are produced or makes your production leaner can pay off in the long term by making your processes more efficient.
• Changing the materials you use to minimise the use of natural resources can also help conserve them for future generations.
• Possibly the best way to become a more sustainable business is by creating a closed-loop industry. By using materials that would otherwise have ended up in waste, you’ll keep production costs and, potentially, harmful emissions to a minimum.
• Aligning your sustainability goals with those of other businesses could also lead to partnerships to reduce waste. They do say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and that could certainly be the case if you could see a use for another company’s waste within your own business.

Many companies are now creating durable products that last rather than cheaper disposable items. Extending a product’s life can reduce manufacturing costs and encourage customers to reuse what they already have. Although it may seem counterproductive to produce fewer goods, you may improve your brand’s reputation by creating products that last.

Great real-world examples of sustainable manufacturing

BMW

BMW is a global company that focuses heavily on sustainability.

As they develop hydrogen-fuel cell technology to power their vehicles, they’re also closely examining their manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for improvement.

Their goal is to create a ‘sustainable value chain that covers its own needs with recyclates and renewable raw materials – including energy.’ The team recently discovered that it’s not just the switch to hybrid and electric vehicles that needs their attention – it’s also battery manufacturing, which emits high levels of CO2.

By using green suppliers and its battery recycling scheme, BMW aims to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the manufacturing process.

Samsung

Samsung is another company committed to taking action on sustainability.

Going above and beyond compliance with environmental laws, they operate within a circular economy to minimise resource use and maximise material value. They’ve also enhanced the durability of their products to conserve resources and reduced the amount of packaging they use.

With regional recycling and water management systems in place, Samsung has overhauled its manufacturing processes to ensure it creates new products in a fair and sustainable environment.

Which courses can help with sustainable manufacturing?

It’s best to get support from experts who can provide sustainability advice and training to get you on the right track.