9 simple ways to become a more sustainable manufacturer
In today’s world, sustainability is crucial. Climate change is a pressing issue affecting the world, with businesses leading the way in minimising the impact and protecting the environment. Manufacturers are no exception.
There is a significant business case for having sustainable operations in your plant.
Customers, now more than ever, prioritise eco-friendliness when making purchasing decisions. They want to work with companies that have a minimal environmental impact. You will win more sales and improve customer sentiment by being more environmentally conscious. The brands that find themselves at the centre of environmental scandal or poor practice are likely to lose favour instead.
There is also a pressure across industries to set and realise net zero goals. This has other implications, including lowering costs by using less energy and reducing waste or improving production efficiency for better cost management and quality. In the face of a cost-of-living crisis, this should be very attractive to plant managers.
Despite the advantages, a large number of businesses have not yet started the transition to sustainable operation, with Make UK reporting under half are committed to achieving net zero by 2050.
The biggest obstacle to becoming more sustainable are finance and fitting it in with other priorities. However, becoming more eco-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean dramatic changes. Minor, low-cost adjustments will make a sizeable difference and move you closer to your goals while protecting your other priorities.
We list nine ways to easily introduce sustainability into your plant and embrace the green revolution.
Manage supplies
Key to any successful processing line is having the correct amount of raw materials to allow your line to function to its maximum efficiency. However, don’t carry excess stock, as it could lead to waste if materials go out of date or are contaminated before you use them.
It also means you’re probably spending more on supplies than you need to, which will hurt your cashflow.
By carefully managing your inventory, you will ensure you have only what you need, minimising the risk of waste.
Data collection will prove crucial in uncovering how you use supplies through inventory and production analysis. From here, you can define patterns which guide your future deliveries for better waste and cost management.
Utilise eco-friendly energy
Currently, energy is a sensitive subject, with many plants facing huge rising costs from their gas and electricity providers.
Alternative energy sources are increasingly popular, with many seeing them as the road away from climate change. Although they usually require an upfront investment, plants that utilise these will be rewarded with lower bills further down the line without the risk of energy shortages (including those threatened under the current energy crisis).
With manufacturers requiring a large amount of energy to power their production lines, switching to alternative sources will allow you to operate as usual while dramatically lowering your carbon footprint.
In addition, you should seek machinery with lower energy consumption (while still offering speed, accuracy and quality), which will reduce your bills and emissions further.
Emphasise productivity
Productivity and sustainability go hand in hand. By ensuring your processes are efficient – meaning that you use only the supplies you need within a minimal production timeframe – you will reduce the waste of labour, times and resources.
Enhanced productivity often leads to faster turnaround times. This means your machinery runs for less time to achieve the same results, which will in turn saves money on energy and limit emissions.
The key to efficient productivity is effective processes, reliable equipment and trained, motivated staff members. Focus on putting these in place to reap the benefits – Yamato will help you with this.
Have strong processes
Efficient processes and systems enable you to achieve your desired results the first time as well as embedding sustainability within them. In the case of production, it means meeting the project’s requirements, completing the tasks that are needed and preventing any errors.
There are many elements to consider in your process, including quality assurance and quality control. These are crucial in enabling you to meet the criteria and deliver high-quality output for your customers.
By having processes that empower you to do the job right, there is a reduced need to reprocess lines after errors emerge. As a result, energy and resource consumption is reduced.
Robust processes also have other benefits like minimised product giveaway and faster turnaround times, reinforcing your sustainability goals and generating better outcomes.
Improve operational efficiency
Efficient equipment is crucial to sustainability. A high-performing machine is much less likely to lead to waste.
Reviewing your overall equipment efficiency is key to understanding your line’s strength. While no product line will ever be 100% efficient, a high score suggests that it will conduct the tasks you need without you having to re-run processes or wasting resources through failed operations or subpar output.
It is also integral to invest in machinery that suits the needs of your products, as this will improve results and prevent poor-quality output.
Most newer machines achieve high performance with minimised energy usage. These machines will reduce your energy consumption – though remember to check with the supplier to determine that this is the case. If you are working with older systems, upgrading could be essential to meeting your sustainability goals.
Disposing of waste properly
Waste management plays a vital role in sustainability. In the current environment, businesses must be mindful of how they dispose of their waste and avoid pollution or other environmental issues.
Only in 2021, 3M was ordered to halt production after it failed to prove that it was not harming the environment, leading to a widely covered scandal and a number of lawsuits. It shows the serious damage that may occur if you aren’t careful enough.
Alongside minimising the risk of pollution or other hazards with your waste, it’s important to avoid sending it to landfills by seeking ways to reuse or recycle instead. This helps to reduce your contribution to greenhouse gases and prevents costs associated with landfill taxes while protecting the environment and your reputation.
A waste management plan is key. It may also be worth partnering with a waste management provider. Make sure that anyone you work with is reputable and reliable, as their mistakes could still impact your plant’s reputation.
Think beyond your production line
Although your production lines will have a leading role in your mission to be sustainable, it isn’t the be-all and end-all. You also need to consider your other business areas, including sales, administration, etc.
Every department should be doing its part to be sustainable. Examples of action to take include:
- Dispose of waste correctly
- Turning off taps after use
- Switching off lights when leaving rooms
- Powering down machines when not in use (including computers) – don’t leave them on standby
- Moving to paperless communications and invoices
- Implementing cycle-to-work or other eco-friendly schemes
Making even small changes could add up towards your environmental goals. Aim to communicate these simple steps to your workforce to get their buy-in to your net zero mission.
Be innovative
Technologies and processes are constantly emerging that bring more sustainable ways of doing things. As net-zero objectives are being pushed heavily, more people are providing creative solutions that help businesses pursue these goals.
Aim to stay on top of these updates and trends as they emerge. Even if it isn’t something you can replicate in your plant, it may inspire your thinking and allow you to adapt your processes for improved sustainability.
Don’t be afraid to go against the grain when seeking to reduce your environmental impact, either. Many plants are just beginning their journey to become more sustainable, and there’s no ‘right’ path. By pursuing your ideas, you might become an industry leader at the forefront of the net zero mission, which will bring far-reaching rewards.
Work with sustainable partners
All manufacturers work in partnership with other companies, including suppliers, service providers, and stakeholders. Aim to partner with people who place equal importance on sustainability and support you in your goals.
Examples of sustainable partners could include those who:
- Source materials ethically, with minimal emissions
- Offer low-emission forms of transport (e.g. local suppliers)
- Utilise efficient processes that minimise waste
- Proactively avoid pollution and other eco-issues
- Instil environmental objectives in their own companies
By choosing the right partners, you will help to build sustainable supply chains that overcome global challenges while reinforcing the work to defeat climate change.
Yamato’s support
Today, climate change is a pressing concern amongst world leaders and consumers (including your customers). With manufacturing being one of the leading sectors for emissions, it is only fitting that we lead the way in becoming more sustainable.
By introducing even small measures into your plant, you will minimise your eco-footprint and contribute to the effort to tackle global warming. Added benefits include reduced costs, improved efficiencies and a better reputation among customers who prioritise the environment in their purchasing choices, making it all the more appealing.
At Yamato, we know how crucial it is to embed eco-friendliness into your plant – and the barriers that commonly stop you from getting there. However, it doesn’t have to be a lonely struggle.
We’re here to support you in your goals by providing efficient equipment that minimises waste and creates sustainable processes.
We also offer machines with reduced energy consumption to allow you to access reliable results while achieving your environmental goals.
Get in touch today to find out more.