Sustainable manufacturing: a critical discipline for the twenty-first century

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an introduction to sustainable manufacturing concepts and practices. Design/methodology/approach – Following an introduction to sustainable manufacturing, this article first considers various government programmes and information sources. It then discusses life cycle assessment (LCA) techniques and standards and certain product design issues. The benefits of sustainable manufacturing concepts are then identified, together with some examples of applications. Finally, brief conclusions are drawn. Findings – Sustainable manufacturing involves a multitude of practices which seek to minimise the impact of a product or process on the environment. It encompasses the entire product cycle from “cradle to grave” and many standards and techniques have been developed to assist in its implementation, including LCA. In addition to meeting growing consumer demands for “greener” products, sustainable manufacturing can yield operational and financial benefits, including reduced material use, improved designs, lower energy consumption and reduced waste and scrap levels. Originality/value – This article provides a timely review of sustainable manufacturing principles, practices and benefits.