According to the World Economic Forum, “Companies that take the lead on sustainability will be market makers rather than market takers. By showing the consumer that there is no need to sacrifice price and quality for sustainability, tomorrow’s successful businesses will meaningfully engage the next two billion consumers.”

The fact is, consumers and business owners care about sustainability, and it’s a driving force behind purchases made by end users and manufacturers throughout the supply chain. As a result of this significant interest and the importance of it, there will soon be sustainable standards set forth by ASTM, with which companies will have to comply in order to remain competitive. Now is the time to become aware of them.

Sustainable Manufacturing: The Future is Now

The newly formed ASTM International Subcommittee #60.13 on Sustainable Manufacturing is currently working on standards that will directly relate to how companies create and adhere to sustainability initiatives.  The subcommittee will also work on and promote energy and material efficiency and waste reduction.

Realizing that many companies simply don’t know what zero-waste and sustainability practices fully entail, the international subcommittee of around 100 members—which came together about one year ago—created four proposed standards to create full understanding along with compliance. These standards are: Guide for the Evaluation of Manufacturing Process for Sustainable Improvement; Terminology for Sustainable Manufacturing; Guide for Sustainability Characterization for Manufacturing Processes; and Classification for Waste Generated at Manufacturing Facilities and Associated Claims.

According to Amy Costello, the first chairman of the subcommittee, it’s “a win-win for everybody.” To remain competitive, says Costello, ”all industries have to operate efficiently and those efficiencies have to align with sustainable manufacturing.”

Successful business, staying competitive, remaining efficient, and fostering sustainability—it sounds like a win-win, indeed.

 


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