In recent years, sustainable manufacturing has become increasingly vital in the materials industry with growing concerns about the impact of manufacturing on the environment. Minimizing the intrinsic risks associated with any manufacturing operation while maximizing the quality and opportunities that arise with improved products is and should be the goal of almost every manufacturer today. At Brewer Science, we lead by example by being a manufacturer committed to sustainability in producing state-of-the-art materials.

According to the US Department of Commerce’s Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI), sustainable manufacturing is a description given to all “manufacturing processes that minimize negative environmental impacts, conserve energy and natural resources, are safe for employees, communities and consumers and are economically sound.” In other words, it is an all-encompassing term that includes different aspects that lie under the three pillars of sustainability—environment, economy, and society. Table 1 shows a list of those aspects.

Table 1. The three pillars of sustainable manufacturing. (OECD)

What makes companies pursue sustainability?

More and more manufacturers are recognizing and achieving advantages, both financially and environmentally, by applying sustainable practices. Some of the reasons that have incentivized companies to adopt sustainability include increasing operational efficiency by minimizing costs and waste, maintaining and reinforcing public trust in their brand, building longstanding success and sustainability of their business, and responding to constraints and opportunities brought about by regulations. It is important to note that not only does sustainable manufacturing help produce sustainable products, but it also helps render the fabrication processes more sustainable, leading to improved total benefits for the company.

For 40 years, Brewer Science has shown its dedication to ensuring sustainability in its manufacturing processes time and time again. Such a commitment has elevated the company to become an example of sustainable manufacturing, such as achieving Certified B Corporation™ certification through its sustainable manufacturing processes. As an international producer of materials and processes that enable innovative microdevices and monitoring systems, we have achieved and maintained proper environmental sustainability, producing high-quality products by achieving zero-defect manufacturing, and sending no waste to landfills—a feat that has earned GreenCircle^® Zero Waste to Landfill certification since 2016.