One of the major priorities on the industrial agenda for 2030 is aligning business objectives with the reduction of polluting emissions in operations and increasing sustainability-related actions.
The Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) states that among the countries in the region, Mexico is one of the largest emitters of emissions, with industries being responsible for about one-third (31%) of them.
“A natural demand from OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) is to establish sustainability guidelines for their suppliers, as requirements are becoming more stringent, including periodic reporting to track progress,” explains Fabián Mendoza, country manager in Mexico for Fracttal.
Therefore, the specialist added that the trend of “Green Factories,” those integrating sustainability into their production processes, logistics management, and infrastructure, will have a clear advantage over traditional suppliers.
Currently, almost all companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index have specific measurements for sustainable aspects. However, the contrast lies in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
“In the countries where we operate, less than 30% of SMEs are aware of the Sustainable Development Goals or have investments focused on greener manufacturing,” explains Mendoza.
According to a McKinsey study, over 45% of OEMs declare no visibility into sustainability processes within their supply chain suppliers, making this an increasingly important aspect when starting or expanding operations in a country and seeking new suppliers.
“We estimate that sustainability will influence business decisions significantly in the coming years: a company with a green factory program will have about a 50% higher chance of being chosen compared to one without these guidelines, certifications, or objectives. With Nearshoring, many foreign companies come to the country looking for new suppliers and expanding their supply chains, but the requirement for these factories to have sustainability programs will become increasingly decisive,” calculates the Fracttal specialist.
One starting point for integrating sustainability measures into factories, in addition to general process analysis, is openness to new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects factory machinery to a single network, enabling real-time monitoring and analysis of operations.
Additionally, proper maintenance of industrial assets can reduce manufacturing emissions by up to a thousand tons of CO2 over a three-year period.
Besides technological integration, Mendoza suggests reviewing other aspects such as materials used in manufacturing, evaluating different stages of the supply chain like packaging and transportation, where exploring “green” alternatives is essential. Directing investments towards water recovery systems and energy cogeneration also plays a critical role.
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