Producing Positive Change: The Energise Guide to Sustainability in the Manufacturing Sector

Manufacturing holds immense potential to drive significant reductions in carbon emissions and promote action towards a Net Zero future. Sustainability could be improved through innovative practices and technology adoption, transitioning to renewable energy sources, optimising processes, and developing low-carbon materials. The sector’s ability to influence downstream industries through product design and supply chain collaboration further amplifies its role in fostering sustainability across a wide range of sectors. 

The impact of the manufacturing sector on Net Zero 

Industry is the UK’s third-highest emitting sector after transport and buildings and is responsible for a sixth of the UK’s total emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from the industry sector are provisionally estimated to have been 52.8 MtCO2e in 2023 (source: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero). 

Therefore, decarbonisation within the manufacturing industry is essential to mitigate its substantial contribution to global carbon emissions, aligning with broader climate change mitigation efforts. If the sector is to be successful in reaching Net Zero, it will be crucial to tackle the key emission drivers for the sector. These are:  

1. Manufacturing processes 
2. Energy use at plants 
3. Supply chain emissions 

Social sustainability within the manufacturing sector 

As the sector transitions towards a sustainable future, it is important to ensure that it is done in a just way that incorporates social sustainability issues. This would improve the lives of employees, workers in the value chain, customers, and local communities. For example, issues such as low wages, long hours, and unsafe environments for workers need to be addressed to ensure fair and safe working conditions not only in the UK, but globally. 

Additionally, it is important that the transition for the sector is ‘people-focused’. This transition can be achieved by: 

• educating and engaging employees in the sector 
• fostering valuable collaborations across the value chain 
• attracting new and diverse talent that will help to drive the transition further

Sustainable solutions for the manufacturing sector

We have developed a guide that delves into the key challenges the manufacturing sector must address to achieve its Net Zero ambitions. It offers quick wins, long-term enablers, and outlines how Energise can support you in tackling these issues