• • • NET ZERO • • •
THE BALANCING ACT: MANAGEMENT OF A GLOBAL ORGANISATION WHILE BUILDING ON ESG METRICS
In today’s manufacturing landscape, profitability and sustainability are no longer opposing forces, they are connected drivers of long-term success By Jennifer Spence, ESG Director, Essentra
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usinesses, especially within manufacturing, are striving for, and able to reach more customers across more global locations. Business operations and client bases are now truly global, providing plenty of opportunities, but also additional considerations, particularly around the environment.
These environmental challenges, as well as the opportunities they create, require the business to understand its effects on supply chains, distribution models and product portfolio adjustments, while maintaining a strong focus on the legislation and regulations relevant to each of its operating markets.
Supply chains and distribution models
Having a dispersed distribution approach and separate hubs around the world can help to reduce carbon footprint.
Efforts from installing solar panels and using electric vehicles, to reducing waste within the supply chain and distribution approach can significantly, and positively, impact the environmental footprint of operations. More than that, these innovations should also lead to cost savings over time, while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. For example, at Essentra, our sites, from our head office in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, through to our manufacturing sites in Ningbo, China, have rooftop solar panels. Our 14 manufacturing sites
across the globe mean that we can supply our 64,000 customers rapidly, and inexpensively due to our global network approach. This alleviates supply chain pressures and helps to reduce unnecessary travel in distributing the final products. As part of our continued global sustainable commitments and evidence of our approach, we were awarded a gold medal by the global provider of business sustainability ratings, EcoVadis. The rating, issued in July 2025, places Essentra in the top 2 per cent overall of companies rated by EcoVadis for the manufacture of plastic products, and in the top 1 per cent specifically related to performance in terms of the environment.
Product portfolio To balance growing a global business whilst reducing carbon emissions requires continuously developing new solutions, and products for our customers. Our new product range made from Post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic helps reduce landfill waste, and has a lower carbon footprint compared to using non-recycled content parts. We expect manufacturers across the globe to continue to innovate in reducing waste, improving time-to-market and finding solutions that meet the demands of customers while reducing carbon emissions. We know that for many businesses, margins have shrunk over recent years, due to supply chain disruptions, inflation, tariff measures and market consolidations. However, despite these pressures, customers and partners expect not just quality and reliability, but also environmental accountability. Indeed, tackling environmental concerns head on can have a positive impact on the bottom line. Sustainable growth is not about sacrificing performance; it is about engineering a smarter, cleaner and more competitive manufacturing future. We know first-hand that creating an environmentally conscious business that has the ability to adapt quickly to changing markets, provides a whole range of benefits.
As a business with a global customer base, we know that we need to manage our environmental and ESG commitments with rigour and candour. We publish our sustainability targets and are continually striving to improve on our sustainability and ESG pledges. We are always on the lookout for innovations and solutions that will further boost our product portfolio and improve our environmental commitments. We employ over 3,000 employees with a global network extending to 28 countries. Across the continents we have 14 manufacturing facilities and 26 distribution centres. We know it is what our stakeholders want. Indeed, it is our stated aim to be the world’s leading, responsible, hassle-free supplier of essential industrial components. We are committed to supporting our customers to achieve their sustainability goals and objectives, by developing sustainable industrial component solutions for them. The benefits and opportunities are clear.
https://www.essentracomponents.com 22 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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