Increasingly companies are realizing the importance of sustainable initiatives, which are not only beneficial for the business but also for the environment and community as a whole.
Sustainability in manufacturing comes through the incorporation of economically sound processes with minimal environmental impacts. There is an increasing number of technologies being introduced which are more and more environment friendly than their predecessors, with better product safety.
According to the World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainability is
“meet the needs of the present, without compromising the capability of future generations to meet theirs.”
- Operational Efficiency
Sustainable manufacturing provides an excellent framework for planned analysis of the manufacturing process and formulating meticulous methods to improve them, besides operational implementation of these processes for maximum efficacy.
The main purpose of sustainability initiatives includes; increasing operational efficiency by reducing costs and waste.
- Employee Safety
There is a growing concern over the health and safety of employees and new and strict laws being formulated to control them. The companies following these codes of ethics are appreciated and have an advantage over others. The technology change especially focuses on the safety of operators.
- Product Safety
Raw materials that are more environment friendly strengthen brand and reputation and build public trust, adding competitive advantage and market trust.
- Environment Safety
The environment is crucial in maintaining our ecosystem for survival. A recent surge in control over CO2 emissions and the net zero concept are evidence of an increased awareness among corporations and their pledge to contribute to a safer future. These include air quality management, water conservation, energy efficiency, noise pollution, waste reduction recycling, etc.
The guidelines for sustainability are broad and not limited to specific rules and regulations due to the diverse businesses and processes. However, some basic criteria are as follows
- Environmental friendliness
- Operational safety
- Recycle and reduce waste
- Process optimization to reduce manufacturing cost
- Power consumption for energy-efficient manufacturing
- Personnel health
