Thomas Guerriero outlines the interconnection between the environmental sustainability goals of production machinery manufacturers and their manufacturing customers and examines the ways organisations can work together to have a net-positive contribution to minimising GHG emissions.
As the global focus on environmental sustainability intensifies, the manufacturing industry finds itself at a critical juncture. Worldwide, the industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for roughly a quarter of global emissions.
At the company level, taking steps to reduce emissions is crucial to meeting global climate targets, ensuring long-term competitiveness and sustainable development, and staying compliant with existing and future legislation. Yet, the nuances are complex and understanding the interplay between different types of emissions across the supply chain is essential for driving meaningful and sustainable change.
Aligning sustainability commitments
The environmental performance of a production machinery manufacturer will ultimately also influence the environmental performance of their manufacturing customers (e.g. FMCG or brand manufacturers), and vice versa. As such, improvements in environmental performance will necessitate collaboration up and down the supply chain to align commitments.
So, what steps can machinery manufacturers take to help align these commitments and create a more environmentally sustainable future?
Developing more sustainable machinery
Production machinery and equipment have a direct impact on FMCG manufacturers’ GHG emissions. There are several strategies machinery manufacturers can adopt and embed within their design processes to create more sustainable products and support their customers’ sustainability goals:
- Responsible material sourcing: Ensure that machinery is designed to optimise the use of recycled and recyclable materials in product development and packaging. With the upcoming EU Deforestation Regulation, machinery manufacturers must ensure they are contributing to responsible sourcing, particularly for packaging materials like pulp and paper.
- Energy efficiency: Identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption during machinery operation. For example, designing equipment with modern electric drive systems in place of pneumatic systems, or which do not require additional factory air for cooling, can substantially lower energy use.
- Longevity in design: Develop robust machinery designed for durability. The longer a product remains in the field, the more embedded emissions can be spread over its operational lifespan, thus lowering overall impact.
- Data-driven design: Equip production line machinery with smart technology to provide FMCG manufacturers with insights on energy consumption relative to production output. This data can help businesses identify inefficiencies and provide insight (for both machinery manufacturers, and their FMCG-manufacturing customers) on ways to optimise manufacturing operations for the future.
Reducing waste in the factory and beyond
Machinery manufacturers can also play a role in minimising waste generated at customer FMCG manufacturing sites, from original machinery and consumables packaging to production line waste from product packaging materials. The following strategies can help reduce waste production:
- Innovative packaging solutions: Collaborate with FMCG manufacturers to develop machinery capable of processing recyclable, compostable, or refillable materials. This proactive approach can help FMCG manufacturers to address consumer demand for sustainability – 55% of consumers prioritise environmental responsibility in brand choice – and can also support the circular economy by helping to reduce downstream waste.
- Efficient manufacturing processes: Design machinery that supports waste reduction efforts during manufacturing. Late-stage customisation using coding and marking equipment can help to reduce packaging waste from overstock, for example. At the same time, efficient material usage in product design can also significantly reduce excess waste.
- Reliability, maintenance, and integration: By designing machinery to be reliable and easy to service and maintain, machinery manufacturers can help their customers increase efficiency and uptime. Equally, integrated and automated solutions can reduce the risk of waste due to manual errors by limiting manual steps involved in data entry and production line changeovers. In sectors like dairy, where products have a short shelf life, preventing downtime and eliminating the risk of errors is critical to reducing waste.
- Cloud communications and smart systems: Designing production line machinery with in-built or connected intelligent systems, such as sensors, machine vision systems, and cloud connectivity, can help FMCG manufacturers identify production issues early – whether they might be a calibration, ink, or unscheduled maintenance issue – preventing excess waste due to errors or malfunctions.
The future of manufacturing: Developing new sustainable business models
As the demand for sustainability grows, machinery manufacturers must rethink traditional business models to better align with their FMCG-manufacturing customer commitments. Here are some innovative approaches that machinery manufacturers should explore to support this goal:
- Support for reuse and refurbishment: Develop schemes that facilitate the reuse and refurbishment of older machinery. This not only extends the overall equipment lifecycle but also reduces the need for new resources, minimising environmental impact.
- Recycling and refill initiatives: Work with FMCG manufacturers – and the downstream supply chain – to design and implement programmes to support the recycling and refill of consumable products. By actively contributing to a circular economy, machinery manufacturers can help their customers reduce waste and emissions associated with single-use items.
- Design for longevity and modularity: Create equipment designed for long life and ease of service. Modular designs allow for upgrades and expansions as needed, reducing the necessity for complete replacements and conserving resources over time. Additionally, remote, advanced monitoring services can enhance support, helping equipment to function more efficiently.
- Outcome-based manufacturing models: Shift from a product-focused mindset of selling machinery to an outcome-based approach focused on solutions. In such models, machinery suppliers take responsibility for ensuring that equipment operates at optimal capacity, focusing on performance or outcomes as opposed to transactional sales. This approach can lead to more sustainable operations as manufacturers and brands optimise machinery usage.
Conclusion: A collective path forward
The manufacturing industry is at a pivotal moment in its journey toward environmental sustainability. Machinery manufacturers can play a vital role in helping reduce GHG emissions across the supply chain by aligning their sustainability commitments with those of their FMCG-manufacturing customers. Developing more sustainable machinery, focusing on efforts that minimise waste, and innovating new business models are critical steps that we can take to foster a culture of environmental responsibility.
Ultimately, environmental sustainability in manufacturing is not just an operational challenge but an opportunity to innovate and lead in a rapidly changing world. By working collaboratively with manufacturers, brands, and consumers, machinery manufacturers can create solutions that enhance their own sustainability profiles while contributing to a healthier planet for future generations.
