SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT | 8 SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT | 9 For manufacturers, there is Quic-i now a real opportunity to Sustainability be proactive in recognising strategies future challenges, taking from the IfM decisive action and making the most of opportunities. Sustainability initiatives: As part of the association, members work with the IfM what to do and how to do it to commission new projects in areas of mutual interest. Through increasing energy and resource eciency, Topics identified as priority areas for the association the UK stands to gain £10 billion per year in additional include supply chain sustainability and Scope 3 profit for manufacturers (according to research from emissions, the path to net zero and the role of digital in the IfM). However, according to Professor Steve Evans, transforming sustainability. Director of Research in Industrial Sustainability at the A recent project focused on how to achieve quick IfM, the manufacturing industry has some way to go wins in sustainability improvements. The IfM talked to achieve these targets. He says: “Around 90% of the to practitioners from a range of global manufacturing resources processed to create goods are not reaching firms, as well as sustainable manufacturing experts, to the person for whom they are made; 50% of edible identify common success factors and best practices food is not eaten, and only about 50% full loading is in businesses that had achieved consistent, rapid achieved in freight trucks in the UK. sustainability improvements. “For manufacturers, there is now a real opportunity Small steps lead to longer-term gains to be proactive in recognising future challenges, taking decisive action and making the most of the Sustainability, when included as part of continuous Insights from the Institute for Manufacturing opportunities that will come from a global shift towards improvement objectives, can act as a foundation (IfM) show that not only are rapid sustainability sustainability. It’s a daunting task, but it’s one that for building a sustainability culture. However, it’s manufacturers should – and need to – address as the also important to note that any initiatives should be improvements achievable, they can also improve the sustainability imperative continues to grow.part of a larger (long-term) sustainability agenda to bottom line. avoid reverting to small improvements. “Even after a “Having agreed to pursue sustainability, maybe even step change, businesses can continue to implement setting a specific target, for many organisations the continuous improvements to optimise the system Increasingly, sustainability is moving from a “good exact pathway remains unclear. To help manufacturers and seek further sustainability improvements,” says idea” to a necessary part of doing business. As gain clarity about both ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’, Steve. “Rapid sustainability improvements resulting the cost of energy and materials rise and growing the IfM established the Sustainability Association to from continuous improvement initiatives can create an help businesses get the support they need to progress opportunity to justify larger sustainability projects or at numbers of consumers put sustainable shopping sustainability initiatives. least provide flexibility in the company budget.” and the environment high on their list of priorities, continuous improvements in sustainability can be the “Manufacturing organisations want advice on the best place to start with sustainability initiatives,” Steve adds. dierence between thriving or shutting up shop.“They want to know the best strategy for eective returns and how to avoid common pitfalls.”