POWERING THE SUSTAINABLE, DIGITAL FACTORIES OF THE FUTURE

Digital manufacturing has become a testing ground for sustainable material use, production and delivery processes that minimise environmental impact. Here is a brief look at the factors involved

- Rajesh K Khosla is President & CEO, AGI glaspac

Over the past few years, sustainability has evolved gradually from an aspiration to a corporate buzzword to an articulated and measurable component of 21st-century business practices. Tri-bottom-line: Profit, People & Planet (P3P) has evolved from John Elkington’s 1994 call to action to a solid business principle for corporate governance.

Several studies have shown that companies that focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and sustainability have outperformed their competitors. Practically speaking, it’s a no-brainer: companies that adopt this strategy save money by streamlining their production processes and reducing their reliance on raw materials and energy resources.

As a result, digital manufacturing has become a testing ground for sustainable material use, production and delivery processes that minimise environmental impact. The circular, low-carbon economy is being accelerated by digital manufacturing, which improves supply chains and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Every production node across a globalised supply chain ensures that ethical and sustainable sourcing is met at every step. Technology and hands-on work can be combined to create more exciting and safe jobs.