{"id":10891,"date":"2023-03-06T16:21:52","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T16:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/international.optimas.com\/?p=10891"},"modified":"2025-09-04T16:00:58","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T21:00:58","slug":"sustainable-manufacturing-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/sustainable-manufacturing-processes\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Achieve Sustainable Manufacturing Processes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:104%;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-blend:overlay;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The last decade has seen an immense shift in focus towards environmental responsibility across all industries. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/opinion\/bringing-sustainability-to-the-centre-of-manufacturing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> have begun to dominate corporate conversations, as increasingly stringent government targets and consumer preferences demand lower carbon emissions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As research into the effect of greenhouse gases and fossil fuels becomes more extensive, sectors are required to take accountability for their emissions. As a result, eyes have focused firmly onto the manufacturing industry, which contributes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ourworldindata.org\/emissions-by-sector\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">24.6% of the world\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions.<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s never been more vital for manufacturers to take responsibility and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techradar.com\/opinion\/bringing-sustainability-to-the-centre-of-manufacturing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">reassess all aspects of their production process<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to reduce carbon emission levels, from sourcing and procurement to manufacturing and transportation. Even the smallest of changes could have a significant, positive impact on industry\u2019s carbon footprint. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Eco-friendly manufacturing can also have a considerable impact on business wins and profit. It\u2019s recently been found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shopify.com\/retail\/sustainability-retail\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">44% of consumers are now more likely to buy from a brand with a clear commitment to sustainability,<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> a number that is likely only to increase. As more and more people assess their personal contributions to global warming, many are re-evaluating the businesses they partner with.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In recent times, manufacturers have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.publishing.service.gov.uk\/government\/uploads\/system\/uploads\/attachment_data\/file\/283909\/ep35-sustainability-and-manufacturing.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">engaged with sustainable initiatives<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> purely from the point of view of efficiency, as they aim to streamline supply chains and counter rising commodity prices. But sustainability goes beyond these bigger challenges, and many smaller, more tangible changes can have an immediate and positive effect.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Switching to Renewable Energy <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"12\" data-list-defn-props=\"{\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even if manufacturers are unable to alter their manufacturing processes directly, they can at least aim to power these processes using renewable energy. Businesses currently relying on fossil fuels can make the switch to renewables, like wind and solar energies, to reduce their overall carbon footprint.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Internal Green Initiatives <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"11\" data-list-defn-props=\"{\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A commitment to sustainable manufacturing can start with the people in your business. Campaigning for energy savings across an entire business, from manufacturers seeking energy-saving efficiencies, to office workers remembering to switch off technology at the end of the day, can have a ricochet effect on a company\u2019s wider sustainability targets. <\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"11\" data-list-defn-props=\"{\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Encouraging staff to simply \u2018think green\u2019 can also have a considerable impact on general emissions levels, for example by inviting colleagues to use trains, buses, and bikes rather than driving to or for work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Looking beyond day-to-day practices, it\u2019s also important that businesses reassess their wider processes. Although globalisation and increasingly advanced technology has prompted global sourcing, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic combined with ecological initiatives have encouraged many to source parts and materials closer to home.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Onshoring, Nearshoring, and Reshoring <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"10\" data-list-defn-props=\"{\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As increasing numbers of consumers turn to those with sustainability credentials, product traceability has become a key consideration for manufacturers aiming to improve their carbon footprint. Transportation and logistics <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/contents\/news\/2023\/01\/a-net-zero-logistics-sector.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">contribute a third of the world\u2019s carbon emissions<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and this figure has actually <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/contents\/news\/2023\/01\/a-net-zero-logistics-sector.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">increased by 8%<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> since pandemic measures have lifted. It\u2019s never been more important, then, for manufacturers to limit the amount of transportation they require.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"10\" data-list-defn-props=\"{\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Onshoring and nearshoring offer invaluable solutions to this problem. If a manufacturer is based in Europe, parts sourced from the Far East will evidently require significantly more transportation than parts sourced from the UK, facilitating an overall lower carbon footprint from the very beginning of a production process.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/li>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"10\" data-list-defn-props=\"{\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Aside from its sustainability benefits, a by-product of onshoring and nearshoring is the reduction of lead times, meaning manufacturers can rely on a steady stream of parts to meet demand. Localised sourcing also allows businesses to avoid unexpected shipping and customs charges, and the physical proximity between customer and supplier also enhances more fruitful communication and therefore an overall more efficient production process. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Aside from its inherent ecological advantages, sustainable manufacturing offers businesses financial and logistical benefits, alongside a competitive advantage. Environmental responsibility will play an increasingly important role across all industries, and accountability is crucial to drive meaningful and measurable improvements for our planet.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10892,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[60,120],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manufacturing-assembly","category-sustainability"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10891","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10891"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10891\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10891"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10891"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/optimas.com\/en_gb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10891"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}