The manufacturing industry is undergoing a seismic shift as sustainability becomes central to its future. As the environmental impacts of production become increasingly clear, manufacturers are tasked with balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship. Sustainable manufacturing aims to reduce resource consumption, minimize waste, and lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, all while maintaining profitability.
What is Sustainable Manufacturing?
Sustainable manufacturing refers to the process of creating products with minimal negative environmental impact, emphasizing energy efficiency, resource conservation, and a reduction in emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines sustainable manufacturing as “the creation of manufactured products through economically sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources.” It goes beyond eco-friendly practices by focusing on the entire lifecycle of a product, from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal or recycling.
What this exactly translates to in terms of an actionable manufacturing process is more complicated.
“We need a uniform understanding of what sustainability is across the board,” said Chan Gill, vertical marketing manager of factory automation at Phoenix Contact. “It means so many different things to different people, and there are different perspectives on it. We need to come to a consensus on what it means.”
Read this article in full in our Integr8 Playbook, "Sustainable Futures: Pioneering Innovation for a Circular Economy," here.
