Sustainable manufacturing: the wave of the future

As 2050 – the deadline for Net-Zero – looms on the horizon, businesses find themselves seeking economically-sound means of meeting emissions targets without sacrificing productivity.

As the deadline approaches, businesses must innovate – often on a colossal scale – to ensure they’re not left behind.

From huge strides in renewable fuels to innovation in battery storage, sustainable manufacturing means that Net-Zero will be achievable by 2050.

What is sustainable manufacturing?

Sustainable manufacturing is the process of manufacturing products using processes that minimise damage to the environment.

For example, a company manufacturing machinery may consider using environmentally friendly equipment at key stages of the manufacturing process; including low-emission generators or HVO drop-in fuels.

Essentially, sustainable manufacturing considers the full lifecycle of a product, from renewable energy during production stages to low-emission fuels in transportation.

Far from an industrial trend, sustainable manufacturing is the future of the manufacturing sector as businesses seek to meet – and ideally exceed – environmental goals. And companies are striving to stay ahead of the curve - for a variety of reasons.

Why is sustainable manufacturing important?

Sustainable manufacturing poses significant benefits to the environment, as well as the businesses who practice it.

First and foremost, sustainable manufacturing practices actively address the harmful impact of manufacturing on the environment. By devising and implementing a sustainable manufacturing plan, businesses can directly address climate change - lowering emissions and even improving efficiency.

But sustainable manufacturing practices can carry other benefits, too.

For example, in a generation defined by its environmentally conscious approach, businesses adopting greener processes see marked reputational improvements, which, in turn, strengthens their brand position.

Moreover, by working ahead of the curve, businesses can respond to regulatory mandates – such as the 2050 Net-Zero deadline – thereby avoiding any penalties that may be incurred by not meeting legislation.

Sustainable manufacturing allows brands to increase their competitive advantage and contribute to global environmental targets.

Finally, contrary to popular belief, sustainable manufacturing is highly cost-effective.

By improving energy and equipment efficiency, businesses stand to make significant operational savings; a win-win scenario by any definition.

Sustainable manufacturing: what to consider

Of course, overnight change isn’t feasible, but by making smaller, more incremental changes, businesses can steadily work towards environmental goals.

For example, the machines used in the manufacturing process rely on fossil fuels; but this needn't be case.

By simply using more environmentally-friendly equipment (such as Stage V generators) or harnessing renewable fuels (such as HVO drop-in fuel), businesses can drastically lower their carbon footprint in a way that doesn’t sacrifice productivity.

Another option is for businesses to review their energy needs. Through remote monitoring, it’s possible to increase energy efficiency by using only what’s needed at given times.

And those are just two examples; the innovation is ongoing.

As green manufacturing articles such as this demonstrate, sustainable manufacturing is the wave of the future in the manufacturing sector.

Posing environmental, reputational, and even economic benefits, setting out a decarbonising strategy should form a key focus for any manufacturing operation.

At Aggreko, we’re leading the way in innovation with our greener upgrades initiative. Contact us to find out how we can help you meet your Net-Zero targets.

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