As businesses invest in improvements to the sustainability profile of their products, they’re looking at all aspects of the value chain — from material sourcing to packaging and end-of-life. While each of these areas is important, brands can sometimes overlook a key opportunity within their manufacturing operations to reduce climate impact. And the conclusions from the recent COP26 meetings have made it even more clear that brands have a key role to play in innovations that usher in climate solutions.

Boosting the sustainability of your manufacturing operation reduces climate impact and makes good business sense. Tetra Pak’s data suggests that almost half — 48 percent — of a product’s carbon footprint comes from the manufacturing process alone. Because manufacturing is an inherently resource-intense process — from energy to water to material — reductions in resource consumption minimize costs.

Consider these best practices to strengthen the sustainability of your manufacturing operation.