REDEFINING MANUFACTURING FOR A ZERO-WASTE FUTURE

The article spotlights robust waste management practices and circular economy strategies that every manufacturer should embrace for a sustainable future.

-  Annanya Agarwal

The past is often repeated by people. I have no interest. It’s the evolution I favour - Unknown. 

Traditionally, the manufacturing sector has always imbibed the ‘take, make, and dispose’ model. In 2018, 80,000 tonnes of dross, a byproduct of aluminium, were reported to have been released into the land, subsequently impacting the ozone layer and contributing to the country’s carbon footprint (source: Niti Ayog, 2018). The negative impact was massive, and I don’t believe we could afford repeats, lest they come with disastrous consequences.

At a time when India stands in the top leagues among the world’s steelmakers and aluminium producers, with technology further propelling the sector, and the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 providing impetus, the need of the hour is increasing responsibility towards and urgency for robust waste management practices. Goes without saying, to ensure a sustainable future—one that is not fraught with environmental threats and systemic inefficiencies—embracing circular economy principles is paramount today. If there was ever a time for manufacturing companies to collaborate and take responsible, conscientious action, it is today.

Here are a few key strategies that stakeholders need to invest in to make this happen:

Closed-loop systems: