Economic pressure ‘holding back sustainability efforts at 70% of manufacturers’

Economic pressures are holding back sustainability efforts at almost seven out of 10 manufacturers (69%) in several countries including the UK, according to new research.

The work by Visual Components, a Finnish multinational specialising in 3D manufacturing simulation, surveyed 360 manufacturing ‘decision makers’ in the UK, US, France and Germany.

Stalled progress on green initiatives was also highlighted elsewhere, the company said – 72% of respondents said less than half of materials used in their manufacturing processes are sustainable, while 79% said less than half of their processes are powered by renewable energy.

Less than half of organisations are focused on waste reduction and improving efficiency (both 43%), while less than a third are focused on a reduction in power usage (29%).

More than two-thirds (71%) of decision makers were nonetheless confident that their business will play a role in the global push for net zero.

“Rising economic pressure will likely extend beyond impacting sustainability and also push organisations towards a reshoring strategy,” a Visual Components announcement said. “Almost four-in-10 (38%) are planning to bring their operations back to their original country, with increased costs associated with maintaining operations across several countries, and transporting goods across long distances, likely to be playing a role.”

Organisations need to ensure that sustainability efforts remain a key focus, the announcement added, as 63% of decision makers said employees play an important role in driving strategies forward.

“The challenging economic climate is presenting a blocker to green strategies for many manufacturers,” said Mikko Urho, CEO at Visual Components. “However, decision makers can’t put sustainability on the backburner, with net zero targets and employee demand dictating its importance.

“To confidently move forward, technology such as simulation software can allow organisations to reduce waste, optimise floor layouts and enable communication of plans to colleagues remotely, bringing down emissions.”

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