The Future of Manufacturing is Sustainable
As the population becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, corporations are feeling the pressure to become more sustainable. Companies today have an environmental responsibility to actively reduce the amount of pollution and waste they produce. The misconceptions that manufacturing companies are dirty and environmentally irresponsible are making them the target of environmental activists and forcing change.
An example of these changes can be seen at Henkel, a multinational chemical and consumer goods company. Henkel recently set a new goal for 100 percent of their packaging to be recyclable, reusable, or compostable by the year 2025. The company has also partnered with Waste Free Oceans and has made efforts to increase their use of scrap plastic.
However, this new goal is more ambitious. The company announced the goal in late August and outlined a strategic framework to make it possible. Henkel’s plan has 3 main factors: increased use of materials from sustainable sources, smarter packaging designs, and closing the loop by ensuring recyclability of products. To learn more about Henkel’s efforts to become more sustainable, read the full article here.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a comprehensive list of sustainable manufacturing companies that can be found online. These companies have reduced waste and water usage, cut energy consumption and increased recycling. These advancements not only help companies reduce their carbon footprint, they can also save companies money. The future of manufacturing is most definitely sustainable, and the benefits certainly outweigh the costs.
