If you own or manage a manufacturing business, then you are likely aware of how heavy on resources your operations can be. In this post, we will explore some ideas and strategies that may help you make your manufacturing business more sustainable.
Why Sustainability Matters in Manufacturing
Sustainability in manufacturing means moving to a cleaner, more efficient, and less wasteful model. There are a number of benefits to working towards sustainability:
- Reduce costs – Sustainable manufacturing processes generally use less energy while producing less waste. This can lead to lower running costs across your entire manufacturing operation.
- More efficient processes – Through reducing waste and inefficiency across your production line, sustainable manufacturing processes can lead to higher throughputs and outputs.
- Regulatory compliance – Investing in sustainability will help you stay in line with national and global sustainability regulations. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), for example, will require manufacturing businesses across the world to report certain sustainability data. Investing in sustainability now will help to future proof your business, as you may not have to make too many major adjustments as the regulatory landscape evolves.
- Competitive advantage – One recent study found that 79% of consumers actively choose to work with businesses that make sustainability a priority. Investing in sustainability could help you attract and retain new clients and customers. Employees tend to prefer to work for sustainable companies too. Your sustainability efforts, then, could also help with your recruitment and staff retention.
Key Aims of Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
There are many aspects to a sustainable manufacturing strategy. These include:
- Reducing emissions and pollution levels.
- Reducing waste while investing in recycling.
- Prioritising efficiency and moving towards “lean” manufacturing procedures.
What is Lean Manufacturing?
Sustainable manufacturing is lean manufacturing. This means that every aspect of the operation has been optimised to maximise efficiency while reducing waste.
As an example of lean manufacturing in action, think about Toyota’s “just-in-time” production principles.
Previously, Toyota would manufacture every part and component they could possibly need, in bulk. With “just-in-time” production, though, they only made the parts that they really needed, and only when they really needed them. In this way, they managed to boost their output and their speed while also dramatically reducing waste.
Lean manufacturing can lead to improvements across your entire manufacturing business. For instance, it can lead to a happier and more productive workforce, as “lean” production lines tend to be cleaner, less cluttered, and generally more pleasant places to work.
Key Ideas and Strategies For Sustainable Manufacturing
- Perform a thorough audit of your operations
Identify any sources of waste and inefficiency. Be sure to talk to your employees, too. They are sure to have some ideas on how certain processes might be improved. - Audit your tools and equipment
Older equipment might use more power to produce less. And when inspecting your machinery, you could identify certain sources of pollution, along with some quick fixes: Exhaust filters that need cleaning, air hoses that need sealing, heat that could be recovered and reused, and so on. - Upgrade your raw materials
Switch to recycled, biodegradable, plant-based, and low-impact alternatives wherever possible. Also consider whether any of your current “waste” could actually be recycled and reused, such as scrap metal, packaging, and paper. - Think about circular economy practices
What can you do to extend the life cycle of your products, or to make it easier for your clients and customers to dispose of or recycle your products? Solutions could include switching to sustainable packaging, and making your products easier to disassemble for reuse or recycling. - Think About Your Partners and Suppliers
Finally, as well as auditing your processes, equipment, stock, and materials, you should also audit the partners and suppliers you work with. In short, you should only partner with businesses that take sustainability as seriously as you do. The right suppliers and logistics firms, for instance, can help you reduce lead and delivery times while also cutting down on emissions.
Your commitment to sustainability can even extend to the professional services you work with, such as your insurer. And this is where we come in.
Specialist Manufacturers Insurance from a Broker Committed to Sustainability
James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you access specialist manufacturers insurance, and you can rest assured that we share your commitment to sustainability. You can read more about our environmental policy.
Find out how we can help you today.