TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Managing waste
Dan Migliozzi, Sales Director for the UK, EU and North America, at AGITO Global
sustainable automation, the path forward can be summarised into a few key actions.
Start with insight, not technology Organisations should begin by auditing energy use, waste and operational performance to build an accurate view of where improvement will deliver the greatest value. This clarity helps prevent misallocation areas with the strongest impact.
Design holistically Automation should be approached as a connected ecosystem rather than a collection of isolated assets. Software, hardware, energy, maintenance and people must work together. Integration should be a design principle, not an afterthought.
are designed as systems from the outset, not assembled piece by piece over time.”
Prioritise lifecycle value Decision-making should extend beyond initial purchase cost to consider total cost of ownership. Maintenance requirements, energy consumption, operational lifespan, long-term value. In many cases, the most resilient.
Invest in people
Sustainable automation depends on skills as much as technology. Developing capability in energy management, automation systems, data analytics and sustainability leadership strengthens execution. When teams understand the purpose behind the technology, adoption improves and outcomes become more consistent.
Build strong partnerships No organisation delivers sustainability in isolation. Collaboration with technology providers, integrators, energy specialists, academic institutions and supply chain partners enables access to broader expertise outcomes.
“Sustainability progress accelerates when
automationmagazine.co.uk
organisations move beyond silos and work collaboratively across ecosystems.”
Measure, review, improve Sustainability performance is not static. Continuous measurement, review and adjustment are essential. Embedding sustainability metrics into day-to-day operations ensures progress is monitored consistently rather than treated as an annual reporting exercise.
“Sustainable automation succeeds when
Embed cultural ownership Sustainability should form part of organisational identity. Recognising success, sharing results and encouraging innovation at all levels fosters shared ownership. When sustainability is embraced collectively, it becomes a sustained capability rather than a top-down directive. When organisations follow these principles, sustainability moves beyond cost containment. It becomes a strategic capability that supports long-term resilience, performance and value creation. Sustainable automation represents one underway across industries. What started as a conversation about regulatory compliance or corporate responsibility has evolved into a fundamental business strategy. Organisations are increasingly recognising that sustainability and operational excellence are not opposing forces, but deeply interconnected priorities. A warehouse or production facility that
less waste, experiences fewer failures and performs more reliably. A sustainable operation. In turn, well-run operations are positioned to adapt to future demands. The critical factor is mindset. Sustainable automation is not about installing the latest machine or chasing technological trends. It is about thoughtful design, disciplined execution, intelligent integration and continuous improvement. It is about understanding that every conveyor, every robot, every storage location, every software decision and every person plays a role in a larger system.
organisations treat it as a system-wide discipline rather than a series of isolated technology choices.”
Experience across the industry shows a clear contrast. Operations that adopt technology without a coherent strategy often experience rising complexity alongside increased energy use and costs. By contrast, organisations that design holistically, integrate intelligently and embed sustainability into everyday decisions achieve stronger performance and more predictable outcomes. The organisations best positioned to lead
the future are those that treat sustainability not as a standalone initiative, but as an operating philosophy. They recognise that long-term success is not created by individual systems or teams working in isolation, but through disciplines. Those are the organisations shaping the next generation of industry. Cleaner. Smarter. More resilient. Better prepared for what comes next. AGITO has recently released a whitepaper entitled: ‘Drivers for Sustainable Automation’. For a copy please email ruta.kardusaite@
agitoglobal.com.
AGITO
www.agitoglobal.com
Automation | April 2026 31
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