Sustainable Converting
Becoming more eco-conscious, one choice at a time
Epson sustainability manager, Daniel Quelch
he Covid-19 pandemic has, undoubtedly, hit manufacturing and supply chains hard in 2020 and that’s not set to change as we head into 2021. The coronavirus has presented a very real and immediate challenge and this has seen priorities including sustainability put on the back burner for many businesses. However, the demand for greener products and services has never been stronger — and this is especially true of younger generations that are looking ahead with large eco-expectations. A global survey of 4,000 people, commissioned by Epson, shows 83% of employees believe the use of “green technology” to improve the environmental and social impact of businesses is important. While 86% of Gen Z and 79% of Gen Y are paying more attention to the environmental and social credentials of the brands they work for or engage with.
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The pandemic will continue to be front of mind for manufacturers, yet the new year also brings with it a renewed emphasis on sustainability. As manufacturing businesses, we must remain conscious of the continued threat of climate change and the role we can play to reduce the environmental impact of our operations and products to help create a more sustainable future.
As we enter 2021, how can we ensure sustainability remains firmly on the agenda?
SUSTAINABILITY AT THE HEART Before the pandemic, many organisations (including ourselves) had already committed to a range of sustainability goals. While these may have been side-lined by some, there’s an opportunity to, once again,
begin to address sustainability head-on and even drive business value in 2021 and beyond. The pandemic has caused many to rethink operational models and supply chain processes and there is a clear opportunity to put sustainability at the heart of these transformation plans.
It’s important for manufacturers to understand that every choice they make, from the equipment and technology they buy, to how they operate, is an opportunity to demonstrate that they are a responsible, eco-centric organisation to work for, engage with and buy from. This requires a genuine commitment to ethical leadership and good governance led from the top, with executives driving value-based strategies. These plans can then be driven by dedicated sustainability managers and subsequent sustainability champions that manage regulations in the areas of waste, energy, chemical and product safety.
RETHINKING DESIGN PROCESSES Growing environmental consciousness is putting pressure on both manufacturers and consumers, urging them to produce, use and dispose of products in a more responsible manner. But this also creates new opportunities to develop technologies that help to further reduce contributing factors to climate change while answering the needs of an evolving workplace and society. For manufacturers, designing more sustainable solutions from the outset helps both themselves and consumers to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact by saving energy, CO2, and reducing plastic use. This approach ensures that environmental impacts are considered at
every phase of the product lifecycle, from design — including the materials and components used — to manufacturing, distribution, use and recycling. An example of how this is being applied is Epson’s developments in inkjet printing. By eliminating the toner cartridge waste that laser printers produce and, instead, depositing ink droplets on to media without heating the ink, the user can benefit from 56% CO2 and energy savings and up to 95% plastic reduction.
Expectations of a more environmentally- responsible approach are growing among customers too. Our recent research found that three-quarters of business decision makers say their organisation’s environmental and social impact has become more important due to COVID-19 and this will continue.
Products should not only support manufacturer’s sustainability goals but also reduce a customer’s environmental impact; minimising resources, energy and waste, and significantly reducing their company’s carbon footprint.
RECYCLING WHEREVER POSSIBLE It’s crucial that manufacturers conserve valuable environmental resources and reduce waste, wherever possible. The effective management of products at their end of life is critical. Collecting and recycling products and supplies in a responsible way is key. Every manufacturer should use trusted services, such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and those for batteries, paper, wood and plastics, etc. Recycling should be made easy for customers too, offering free, convenient collection and drop-off services, wherever possible. Epson recycles hardware and offers its free cartridge collection and recycling programme has different collection systems for different products, with consumables, such as ink cartridges, toners and waste ink containers, sorted and professionally recycled by certified partners.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
It’s time for sustainability to become engrained in your company’s DNA to ensure longevity. Each and every manufacturer can commit to making greener choices, encompassing every element from manufacturing and design, to changing employee, customer and even consumer behaviours.
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epson.co.uk
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February 2021
convertermag.com
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