Sustainable manufacturing

The manufacturing sector is rarely conflated with environmental best practices. Perceptions, however, are not always accurate. In truth, manufacturers around the world are generating substantial financial and environmental benefits from sustainable manufacturing.

As defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency, sustainable manufacturing is “the creation of manufactured products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources.” Our research explores the opportunities that this type of approach presents for the manufacturing ecosystem—not only for manufacturers of industrial and consumer products, but also for those in the technology, healthcare, and process manufacturing sectors.

This report delves into the below five areas of impact where sustainable practices can drive measurable improvements across the manufacturing value chain, with real world examples:

• Engineering
• Sourcing
• Production
• Transportation
• Aftermarket

It is incumbent on players across the industry to take sustainability measures appropriate to their operational realities. Only through concerted industry efforts, and a willingness to accept personal responsibility, manufacturers can begin to drive meaningful environmental improvements across the board.