3 ways manufacturing leaders can drive sustainable outcomes

01. Benchmark your organization’s progress towards sustainability

Manufacturing’s extensive impact on carbon emissions means it is going to be at the forefront of change—whether that is driven by manufacturers themselves or by government policy.

The first step is to define your path to sustainability. Autodesk provides a tool to benchmark your current sustainability strategy against global trailblazers. Armed with that insight, you can start to audit existing policies, and evaluate and incorporate sustainability best practices that also deliver positive business outcomes.

02. Transition from “linear” to “circular” thinking

Governments globally are starting to explore and develop circular approaches and many manufacturers are already evolving their business models, embracing the idea of holistic designing and circularity. This involves designing products with repair, reuse and recyclability in mind from the outset. Servitization is also well matched to a circular ethos as it encourages a focus on product durability and efficiency, as well as on the total lifecycle of products. It is estimated that over 80% of all product-related environmental impacts are determined during the design phase.

03. Investigate approaches that can enhance sustainable outcomes

Generative design, for example, is a key enabler of sustainable design. It employs artificial intelligence to deliver hundreds of design options, identifying potential opportunities for, say, reducing the number of components or incorporating recyclable materials.

Additive manufacturing can reduce the use of materials, as there is no unused waste with 3D printing compared with subtractive methods. It can also improve product efficiency and enable the production of new, more sustainable products.

Manufacturing will be a crucial player in the global transition to more sustainable practices.

The best practices and innovations described in Autodesk’s e-book will be important to help manufacturers reach their sustainability goals.

All data taken from Autodesk’s e-book, Driving sustainable outcomes in design and manufacturing.