Recycling and Reuse Programs Top List Of Manufacturers Green Investments

August 13, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Seventy-one percent of manufacturing executives believe the cost of greening manufacturing is getting lower, and the potential profits higher, according to EFT Research’s Green Manufacturing: Adoption & Implementation Report.

With 77% of manufacturing executives in agreement that energy prices will rise significantly next year, the focus of operations budgets is turning sharply towards how to cut the dependence on oil. With this in mind, EFT asked respondents to pinpoint what real projects they are investing in, what the challenges and barriers have been, and where they are seeing an ROI.

The vast majority of respondents, 95%, agree that green manufacturing will continue to expand. Furthermore, 66% believe there to be a market for more expensive and greener products in their industry. And it’s not just the increased profits that are driving green initiatives – 43% of respondents report that environmental imperatives have resulted in improved efficiency and product quality for their operation.

So what are they doing to achieve these encouragingly positive results? The most popular choice, that of 65% of respondents, was investing in recycling and reuse programs. Additionally water reduction programs (58%), continuous improvement (54%), energy management (50%), environmental management (46%), materials management (36%), establishing a corporate green team (33%), and supplier management (32%) are all reported to be making manufacturing leaner, greener and more profitable.

According to the survey, 64% of executives expect green initiatives to further their overall corporate sustainability startegy and vision, 62% see green initiatives as a good response to customer interest in environmentally friendly products and services, and 51% feel they are improving their public reputation. On the operations side, 52% noted cost reduction as a key benefit, and 47% saw improved efficiency.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Best Practices: Product Environmental Compliance

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader