Manufacturing doesn’t have to be wasteful, expensive, and unsustainable. Fortunately, you can adopt eco-friendly strategies to increase efficiency and productivity. An Indiana University survey revealed that businesses could save up to $70 billion through sustainable manufacturing, making it imperative to leverage. Besides, your business can benefit from a 30% tax credit and brand recognition. That said, here are some eco-friendly manufacturing strategies to adopt.

Embrace renewable energy 

You may consider renewable energy if you wish to embrace sustainable manufacturing. It derives from natural sources that are continuously replenished, addressing the issue of resource depletion. Besides, it facilitates cost-effective production processes and improves your efficiency. Companies like Tesla and Procter & Gamble are embracing renewable energy, reiterating its necessity and benefits. Therefore, you may leverage solar, geothermal, wind, low-impact hydroelectricity, or biogas in your manufacturing processes. You may generate yours on-site or purchase green power from accredited sources. 

Conduct an energy audit 

According to a 2019 survey by the Energy Information Administration, the manufacturing sector consumes over 32% of energy in the US. However, you can identify and rectify energy waste by conducting an energy audit. Besides, it helps reduce your energy and production costs while reducing your dependence on foreign energy supply. Therefore, it’s prudent to work with an energy auditor for an efficient evaluation. You may also gather your energy bills for proper analysis and take steps to limit your energy use. For instance, you may replace your HVAC filters and use a reprogrammable thermostat to reduce energy consumption. 

Reduce production waste 

It’s prudent to establish waste-reduction practices to promote sustainability in your factory. Often, production waste comprises inventory, transportation, overproduction, and defects. Therefore, it’s imperative to monitor these aspects to minimize waste. For instance, you may reduce your packaging and embrace recycling. What’s more, you can leverage eco-friendly production techniques like laser light technology to reduce the need for extra materials. Furthermore, you can create a regular maintenance schedule to reduce sudden equipment breakdown and unplanned costs. It’s also best to efficiently manage your inventory to avoid unnecessary materials waste. 

Create eco-friendly products

While it’s prudent to adopt a sustainable manufacturing process, you may also want to produce eco-friendly items. The world is gravitating towards a sustainable lifestyle, making it imperative to address this need. Besides, you’ll be encouraging your customers to use healthy products, thereby reducing their illness risks. What’s more, you’ll reduce the emission of toxic gases and prevent water and land pollution. It’s best to source your products from local sources to reduce transport costs and emissions and use post-industrial plastic grades if applicable. Perhaps, you can reduce the needed materials through part design and leverage flax or switchgrass instead of plastic. 

Conserve water

The US Geological Survey revealed that industries use about 15.9 billion gallons of water daily, making up four percent of total water usage in the country. It’s, therefore, best to reduce water waste in the bid to remain sustainable. You can monitor your daily water usage and treat water as a precious resource worth conserving. It’s also prudent to treat and recycle used water and leverage waste-to-energy technologies to enhance water 

conservation. 

It’s possible to manufacture goods and save the environment simultaneously. Hopefully, you’ll adopt these eco-friendly strategies for maximum efficiency.