◊ By Jacqueline Watson

Out of the 6.67 million deaths due to air pollution in 2019, 1.67 million were sadly in India, the second highest for any country after China. In addition, between 2019 and 2021, there has been an 8% increase in polluting industries in India, meaning the problem is only going to get worse.

At this important time in India and our planet’s history, change needs to happen fast, and it is essential that we all do what we can to reduce our environmental impact. For large-scale industries and product manufacturers in particular, the pressure is on, but there are many ways manufacturers can transform their energy and resource intensive production processes in order to alleviate their carbon footprint.

Here are some of the key areas to consider when taking steps to becoming an environmentally conscious organisation:

1] Adopt a circular economy

If your production line currently follows a linear model, adopting a circular economy is a key step to improving the efficiency of your manufacturing process. While reducing excess waste, it will enable you to keep resources in use for as long as possible.

2] Minimise water usage

Reducing water usage in the manufacturing cycle is crucial to conserving natural resources, and adopting a closed-loop system significantly improves the sustainable nature of manufacturing.

3] Embrace Green Chemistry

The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry is a framework that provides manufacturers with a checklist of ways in which to minimise the impact of using chemicals in the production process.

4] Create a sustainable supply chain

Investing time and effort into assessing your supply chain will pay dividends when it comes to reducing emissions and resource wastage. Ensuring that deliveries are optimised for efficiency by reviewing logistics, such as the routes, transportation methods and packaging, will help to reduce emissions, and may also help with cost savings.

5] Invest in the community

India has one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems with four of the world’s top 35 biodiversity hot spots found in the country. Implementing a robust programme of community initiatives such as replanting trees, creating dedicated wildlife areas and educating suppliers to promote conversation efforts are all proactive steps that can be taken to combat various environmental consequences of manufacturing, including resource depletion, soil erosion and pollution.

Whatever industry you are working in, we all have a responsibility to do what we can to protect our ever-endangered planet. Throughout every stage of the process, there are multiple opportunities to reduce your organisation’s impact on the planet; from selecting suppliers who align with your environmental ethos, to streamlining your supply chain, or adopting Green Chemistry practices.

The author is Managing Director, Citrefine International Ltd