Make UK reports sustainability drive undented by Brexit uncertainty
10 Jun 2019
British manufacturers are making substantial progress with sustainability improvements, largely prompted by the potential cost reductions, reveals a new survey.
Make UK’s new report and survey Manufacturing: stepping up to the sustainability challenge reveals that half of all respondents are “making headway” with their environmental improvement programmes.
Of those who have implemented schemes, nearly three quarters (71%) stated that the recent innovation they had made had reduced cost.
The news was welcomed by the energy and lean growth minister Chris Skidmore who commented:
“This is concrete evidence that sustainability in the manufacturing sector makes good business sense. It’s great to see businesses benefitting from becoming greener and cleaner and that cutting emissions can be a win-win: reducing costs, improving investor confidence and attracting the brightest and best employees.”
This is concrete evidence that sustainability in the manufacturing sector makes good business sense
Chris Skidmore, minister for energy and lean growth
The results suggest that firms’ commitment to sustainability has not been adversely affected by the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, which business claims has slowed investment and planning in many other areas.
This is despite the fact that withdrawal from Europe will impact environmental policy, which has previously been driven and overseen by the European Union.
Make UK environmental policy adviser Sam Pentory noted: “Our survey results demonstrate that despite the level of Brexit uncertainty, our members are moving along the path towards sustainability.
“Whilst they are rightly conscious of the cost of implementing environmental and energy improvements, some are going much further and already thinking about the risk of climate change could pose to their businesses.”
Photo: Shows such as the recent Subcon 2019 reflect UK manufacturers' interest in innovation and sustainability
