Where to start implementing an ESG strategy in a manufacturing company?

ESG serves as a benchmark, defining an organization’s sustainability strategy in three areas: environmental, social, and governance. While all companies should pursue sustainability the manufacturing industry may face specific challenges. In this article, we will discuss how a production facility can effectively initiate and develop an ESG strategy, considering the specific aspects of this industry.

The environmental aspect defines all the steps an organization takes to care for the environment and reduce the negative impact of its activities on the planet.

Actions may include reducing the carbon footprint or recycling, but the most significant mutual benefit for both the company and the environment lies in properly managing energy usage and its sources. The scale of these enterprises often leads to significant energy consumption and the production of substantial waste. In companies that do not adhere to ESG principles, the potential for the greatest financial losses often lies in waste. This means that the processing is not optimized enough to eliminate it or ensure its reuse. It is also partially related to storage management – better storage allows for more efficient resource utilization, thereby avoiding waste and associated costs.

Despite the complexity, the environmental factor is the most measurable and easily optimized, mainly through monitoring machines and processes.

Social factors primarily include caring for employees and the local community. The larger the scale of the company, the greater its impact on the environment. In addition to providing employment, a company should engage in the development of the local environment, such as through investments in education or infrastructure.

An engaged and loyal workforce is invaluable to any company. It is important for the company to represent values that employees want to identify with. It is also necessary to actively create an atmosphere conducive to development and ensure access to appropriate tools, courses, and training.

Effective governance in the context of ESG involves optimizing communication within the company. Transparency, adherence to professional ethics, and legal regulations are crucial. Supervisors should focus on reporting to stakeholders and improving the decision-making process. If communication functions smoothly, all employees know what, how, and when to do things. This, in turn, saves time, money, and eliminates potential misunderstandings.

Before a company begins implementing an ESG strategy, understanding the goals of this strategy is crucial. A workshop with the company’s management involving an ESG specialist can provide the necessary knowledge and engage them in the upcoming changes. This is the foundation for convincing the rest of the team of the validity of the decisions to be made.

Analyzing the current situation through an external audit is a necessary path to identify issues related to ESG in a given company. Attempts to conduct an internal audit may lead to uncertain and unreliable results. Only an experienced specialist can precisely identify the real challenges of the facility and effectively advise on subsequent stages. An audit is a universal step in implementing ESG actions for different companies, allowing the identification of the most problematic areas that require special attention.

Manufacturing companies have systems that support the automation of data related to the environmental factor. MES systems and traceability assist, among other things, in measuring the carbon footprint and environmental optimizations. While the social and governance aspects are much more universal, it is worth remembering that manufacturing plants require more flexible approaches due to the large scale and diversity of employees in such companies.

For ESG-compliant activities to be effective, it is necessary not only to monitor them, but also to update them regularly. Each company has its own strategy, which it constantly evaluates for effectiveness, ensuring it is moving in the right direction. Regularly checking the functioning of the sustainable development strategy is equally important. Even if planned actions include long-term perspectives, ESG aspects undergo continuous changes, such as legal ones.

Effective implementation of the ESG strategy brings financial benefits, builds a positive image, and attracts investors who prefer sustainable companies. Monitoring and continuously updating actions are crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of the ESG strategy in a dynamic business environment. Implementing these steps is not only an investment in sustainable development but also the foundation for the long-term success of a manufacturing company. Therefore, it is necessary to adapt the ESG strategy to current conditions, ensuring that the company continues to achieve its intended goals in line with the latest standards and requirements.