What Are the Best Eco-Friendly Practices for a Sustainable Summer?

Manufacturers and industry workers have many incentives to switch to more sustainable operations. A leaner, smarter industry yields less waste, streamlines maintenance and saves money. These are the best eco-friendly summer practices for making the hottest season more environmentally conscious.

1. Use Less Artificial Intelligence (AI)

In this day and age, asking a forward-thinking company to use less AI is almost like asking them to lose money. It is one of the most competitive markers of modern businesses. However, like most eco-friendly practices during the warmer months, manufacturers need to find ways to rely on it less and to create less heat through energy use. 

AI uses copious resources, requiring immense computing power, which releases a lot of residual heat. This requires facilities and data centers to crank up their cooling efforts, which uses more utilities and raises prices for all. Instead, use AI only for specific use cases or find ways to adopt greener AI practices.

2. Try Sustainable Materials

Depending on what a facility makes, numerous viable alternatives for materials with a smaller carbon footprint could exist. Packaging could use recycled paper or bamboo for filler, and products could be refillable or made from recycled metals. 

Procurement experts should challenge themselves to interact with new vendors to promote supplier diversity and support organizations that risk business resilience to promote eco-friendly summer practices.

3. Embrace Energy Efficiency

The number of ways the industry can make processes more energy-efficient is inspiring. Websites could transition to greener servers, facilities could invest in smart HVAC systems and buildings could incorporate on-site renewable energy with battery backups. Optimizing energy consumption is a comprehensive effort, encouraging leaders to look at every aspect of the structure and operation to find ways to cut just a little bit more.

4. Use Waste-Reduction Strategies

The summer months could produce a lot more waste, depending on the sector. Food and beverage could see spoilage of perishables if their refrigerant technologies are not up to snuff. Beating these heat waves requires temperature management systems to work overtime, so waste-reduction strategies will be essential for these workers. It is also a great idea for all manufacturers, especially in the textile and cosmetics industry.

Upcycled materials, recycling initiatives, composting and refill stations create a closed-loop system. This saves money from harvesting virgin resources and establishes circular economics throughout the supply chain. Some are even taking sewage sludge and combining it with solar power to make a revolutionary green energy source.

5. Try Eco-Friendly Dyes and Printing

Dyes make products and packaging pop, but they contain many toxins that easily pollute the environment. Even with trends like additive manufacturing, companies should focus on natural dyes without chemical supplements and water-based printing practices to eliminate as many contaminants as possible. They seep into waterways and soil with little resistance, which gets into wildlife and crops.

6. Diversify Suppliers

Supply chain diversity is one of the best ways to ensure a facility remains operational despite international delays, trade wars and economic uncertainty. Supporting smaller organizations that support environmental equity and commitments will be the best thing during the summer. 

Citizens purchase more during the warmer months, especially because of tourism. As resources become scarcer because of increased purchasing, companies will want a few other third parties to call on if they need a material that is in short supply.

7. Clean Without Chemicals

Facilities need to remain hygienic for workforce safety reasons and to maintain equipment. Dirt buildup and other influences can reduce operational efficacy and worsen health problems. Everything, from large equipment to cleanrooms, should be cleaned with as few chemicals as possible, like bleach, unless it is absolutely necessary. 

Industrial outfits need to maintain pristine facilities, but they should never be at the expense of local habitats and biodiversity. Summer is the prime time for pollen to float in or microorganisms to travel in on muddy shoes after a June downpour. Many chemical-free, eco-friendly alternatives exist so workers keep the air clear and pollutants to a minimum.

8. Purify the Air

Indoor air quality is critical to monitor in the hotter, potentially windier seasons. This could easily spread allergens, contaminants and particulate matter that is harmful to workers and everyone outside the building. 

To keep employees safe, industries should have smart air monitors, which can measure everything from ozone to sulfur dioxide. It will show stakeholders what the most notable air pollutants are in the facility, informing them what goals to set to eliminate them. 

9. Work Remotely

For those off the production floor, everyone should try to work from home as much as possible. Even a hybrid work schedule has been proven to be more eco-friendly than commuting into an office every day.

This goes for work-sponsored trips as well. While venturing across the nation for a few business meetings in person is a nice getaway, it should be done over video conferencing software instead to remove the emissions associated with the flight and other travel expenses. There are numerous technologies to allow people to collaborate all over the world without anything more than an internet connection. 

10. Get Certified

From Six Sigma to LEED, the variety of sustainable certifications is only growing. These organizations provide extensive guidance to help manufacturers achieve the most eco-friendly operations. Some focus on reducing waste in production, while others prioritize energy efficiency.

There are also more creative certifications, like the Living Building Challenge, which is a framework for creating a self-sustaining, biomimetic structure. Other organizations, like the Forest Stewardship Council, are stamps of approval inspired by ethical material sourcing. Manufacturers can pick their top decarbonization priorities this summer and find the agency that will help them get there.

Eco-Friendly Summer Practices When They Matter Most

Summer can be a highly consumptive time of year as temperatures ramp up and demand can soar off the charts. Industries must find ways to mitigate some of the impacts, which can lead to long-term operational shifts. What could be a temporary eco-friendly summer practice may turn into a permanent institutional change. This is ideal, as the climate crisis worsens and corporate resilience against related stressors will be more important than ever before.