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Driving Sustainability in Industrial Sectors: Strategies and Impact


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In an era of increasing environmental awareness, sustainability has become a paramount concern across industrial sectors. This article looks at industries and examples of sustainable initiatives being undertaken, exploring how various industries are adapting to mitigate their ecological footprint. 67% of companies have started using more sustainable materials* and almost a third of Europe’s largest companies have committed to reaching Net-Zero by 2050**. From agriculture to technology, businesses are recognising  the imperative to integrate sustainable practices into their operations. Through innovative approaches, companies are not only striving to minimise  the environmental impact of their current products, but also design new products for circularity.

Recent initiatives across industries

The petrochemical industry continues to be synonymous with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Decoupling human consumption from oil’s products e.g. fuels, plastics, and fine chemicals will be a monumental challenge that will need to be addressed in the coming decades and centuries. One of Strategic Allies Ltd’s (SAL) clients sought solutions for the sustainable manufacture of hydrocarbons in the kerosene range, utilising renewable resources. SAL identified potential partners in a range of industries, from lubricants, solvents and sustainable aviation fuel, and at the end of the search the client took up direct contact with two potential partners, moving towards a deal.

Reduction in plastic use is also key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Single use plastics are being banned in many geographies, forcing large corporations to adapt and find new solutions to satisfy their customers. A global FMCG client came to SAL looking for solutions to their paper straw shortcomings. Having already pivoted away from plastic straws, they were experiencing problems with rigidity and moisture resistance with their paper straw solution. SAL identified food-grade paper stiffening and moisture resistant technologies that were commercially available and presented these to the client. As a result, the client contacted almost half of the companies that were presented, in the hope of finding a solution to their initial problem.

Another client was aware of the conflict of land use associated with the raw material used and consequently tasked SAL with finding alternative feedstocks with greener production methods. Solutions assessed included carbon capture and utilisation, food and fuel production technologies. 30 companies were presented to the client, all new to them, and introductions were made with 4 potential partners.

Land use, greenhouse gas emissions and ethical considerations have all been factors leading many towards a flexitarian, vegetarian or vegan diet. Global food manufacturers are becoming increasingly aware of this and are looking to cater for these new demographics’ needs. One  such multinational approached SAL looking to improve the texture of their plant-based meat products. Both ingredient selection as well as food processing technologies were of interest, as long as the fibrous, meaty and chewy texture of meat could be reproduced. Animal-free protein sources such as fava, pea and wheat proteins were assessed, as well as fungal, algae-based and food waste options. Over the six months of iterative technology scouting, SAL presented 45 organisations to the client and samples were arranged to be delivered to the client from multiple potential partners.

E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world***. This is in part due to the complexity associated with recycling and reusing electronics. SAL worked with a global FMCG company seeking solutions to create more sustainable electronics. Companies offering technologies to recover printed circuit board (PCB) materials and components, alternatives to silicon chips, and miniaturisation of PCBs were all evaluated and 25 companies were shared with the client. Of these, four introductions were made to begin discussions as to how the client and the technology owner might work together.

 

From the recent examples given above, as well as the obvious shift in public perception regarding climate change and global warming, it is clear that becoming more sustainable is imperative now more than ever. The path to success, whereby a company can be profitable and competitive with others in their industry, but also sustainable, may seem impossible. However, in almost all cases, it is through incremental innovative steps that this can and will be achieved. Strategic Allies Ltd will continue to help clients move towards a sustainable future and are proud to say that 70% of the projects undertaken in the last 12 months were  sustainability focused. If you would like to hear more about our approach, please contact John Allies – john@strategicallies.co.uk. We are always happy to send you more details or schedule a call to discuss challenges, opportunities, and how we may be able to support you using our experience, knowledge and network.

 

References

* Deloitte Global CXO Sustainability Report – https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/climate/content/2022-deloitte-cxo-sustainability-report.html

** Accenture article – https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/sustainability/reaching-net-zero-by-2050

***E-Waste (World Health Organisation) – https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electronic-waste-(e-waste)