Making your industrial business greener is the only way to cut down emissions. So, where do you start? We’ve got you covered. Here are some actionable steps that you can take to make your industrial business more sustainable without compromising efficiency.
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Make Your Industrial Business More Sustainable
When it comes to sustainability, the industrial sector has a bad rap. It’s one of the top five sectors from which greenhouse gas emissions come.
Emissions from industrial businesses are warming the planet at an alarming rate. They also contribute to the increasingly devastating floods, storms, heatwaves, and fires—everything the world is grappling with.
The science is clear: it’s important to slash emissions to prevent catastrophic climate impacts.
1 Use Renewable Energy
Coal, oil, and gas have been fueling industries for ages. But they are dirty energy sources.
According to the United Nations, they are responsible for more than 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. That makes them the largest contributor to global climate change.
Before it’s too late, hop on the renewable energy train. Solar, wind, hydro, or geothermal—there are plenty of ways to power your operations without wrecking the planet.
Installing solar panels or investing in wind energy will cost you a big buck. But you will save a lot in the long run.
Tax incentives, rebates, and lower energy bills make it a smart long-term investment. Some industrial businesses are now selling excess power back to the grid. That means you can sell that excess power back to the electricity grid, which will offset the cost of your solar panel system over time.
2 Reduce Waste
Walk through your factory, and you will notice how much stuff gets thrown away. Scrap metal, excess packaging, defective products—it all adds up.
The manufacturing industry, for instance, is one of the largest producers of waste. Statistics Norway reports that 1,210 thousand tonnes of waste was produced in 2022. That’s a sobering number.
Whether you’re operating a manufacturing industry, chemical industry, or any other industry, it’s important to reduce waste.
Before anything else, track where your waste comes from. Are there production inefficiencies? Can some materials be reused or recycled? Once you know, you can start tweaking processes to minimize it.
Tap into the circular economy. It’s basically a model that prioritizes keeping materials in circulation for as long as possible, effectively reducing waste.
3 Invest in Carbon Capture Tech
Even if you do everything right, some emissions are unavoidable. That is because certain industrial processes inherently release greenhouse gases as a byproduct.
Unless you plan to shut down—which isn’t an option—carbon capture technology is your next best move. The World Resources Institute reveals that this tech captures about 0.1% of global emissions. That is around 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.
It involves the capture of carbon dioxide from industrial processes, such as burning fossil fuels in power generation or cement and steel production. The captured carbon is then transported from its point of origin in a pipeline or through a ship and stored deep within underground rock formations.
In the oil and gas industry, for instance, the captured carbon can be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Atoco explains that EOR is a technique in which carbon dioxide is injected into gas and oil reservoirs to boost extraction efficiency.
4 Green Your Supply Chain
You can have the most energy-efficient factory on the planet. But if your suppliers are polluting like there is no tomorrow, your sustainability efforts only go so far.
Work with vendors that prioritize eco-friendly materials, ethical sourcing, and sustainable logistics. If switching suppliers isn’t an option, work with your current ones to find greener solutions, like reducing excess packaging or optimizing shipping routes to cut emissions.
When it comes to carbon footprints, transportation is a major culprit. Consolidate shipments and use eco-friendly packaging. If possible, partner with freight companies that offer carbon-neutral shipping.
Have an in-house fleet? Choose lighter and fuel-efficient vehicles. It will minimize fleet-related greenhouse gas emissions and save money on fuel costs.
5 Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Equipment
Old, inefficient machines are energy hogs. They eat up more electricity, drive up costs, and make your carbon footprint sky-high.
Upgrading to energy-efficient equipment is one of the smartest sustainability moves you can make.
Modern industrial machines use less power, run cooler, and last longer. From high-efficiency motors and LED lighting to smart HVAC systems and automated production lines, there are endless ways to cut energy waste.
Not ready for a full upgrade? No problem. Even simple changes, like, lubricating moving parts and optimizing machine settings, can make a huge difference.
The push for sustainability isn’t slowing down but accelerating. Taking steps now will future-proof your business, save money, and put you ahead of the competition. So don’t wait -start making changes today. Your industrial business will become an example of how sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand.
