Hello everyone! Meet Aire, a committed storage solutions design and manufacturing company founded in 2020. Our workshop is located in an urban area, a detail that reflects our commitment to sustainable production.
What is sustainable production?
Here's a definition of sustainable production to help us converge on a common idea. Sustainable production is an approach to manufacturing objects. The goal is to minimize the environmental and social impact throughout a product's life cycle, from the production process through its use to its end-of-life.
We can identify several aspects in sustainable production: Responsible use of natural resources , reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, preservation of biodiversity, promotion of fair working conditions , as well as reduction of waste and pollution .
Companies committed to sustainable production seek to adopt environmentally friendly practices, for example, by promoting the use of recycled or biodegradable materials, optimizing the energy efficiency of facilities, or reducing emissions of harmful substances.
They also commit to ensuring safe and fair working conditions for their employees, ensuring respect for human rights and combating discrimination. Obviously, all these challenges cannot be met overnight. Small businesses cannot meet these challenges alone either. But this approach can be seen as a goal to be achieved within 15 years . It is therefore a milestone to guide business practices more than a certification label.
The goal of sustainable production is to achieve a balance between economic , social and environmental imperatives, contributing to the preservation of natural resources, the fight against climate change, and improving the quality of life of workers and local communities.
The word "new" in sign language
What are the benefits of sustainable production for countries and why support companies committed to this approach?
Sustainable production offers numerous benefits, both economic and social. Companies that invest in sustainable production often experience increased competitiveness, long-term savings, and the creation of sustainable jobs. Furthermore, sustainable production promotes improved health and well-being, as well as environmental protection.
The multiple economic, social and environmental advantages of this productive practice: A non-exhaustive list:
- Strengthening competitiveness : Companies committed to sustainable production invest in research and development to find innovative products that meet the needs of a changing world. The intellectual property generated has an accounting value and also opens the doors to new markets.
- Long-term cost reduction : Although the transition to sustainable practices requires initial investment, it leads to long-term savings. For example, adopting energy-efficient technologies can reduce electricity bills. Effective waste management can reduce waste management costs. Finally, resource optimization can reduce procurement-related expenses.
- Sustainable job creation : The transition to sustainable production models creates new employment opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, eco-design, waste management, ecological restoration, etc. These jobs offer decent working conditions and contribute to the country's economic development (income, investments, tax revenues).
- Improved health and well-being : Sustainable production promotes the reduction of toxic substances and pollutants in products and manufacturing processes. This has an immediate impact on the health of production teams, consumers, and the general population.
- Environmental protection : Finally, sustainable production helps reduce the ecological footprint by minimizing the consumption of natural resources and preventing air, water, and soil pollution. This contributes to the preservation of biodiversity, the fight against climate change, and the conservation of ecosystems.
Machine in a workshop in an urban area
How can we act to promote this approach?
There are several ways to promote sustainable production at the local, national, and European levels. We propose three levers for action: legislating transparency, promoting sustainable practices through market access, and promoting a usage economy.
Transparency is crucial. Governments should pass laws requiring companies to publish detailed information about the origin of their raw materials and the working conditions of their employees.
Market access can also be used to promote sustainable practices. Elected officials can support businesses that engage in sustainable practices by creating market access conditions at multiple levels.
Finally, promoting an economy of use rather than the consumption of objects can support the transition to a more sustainable economy.
Call on governments to legislate on transparency
Supply chains and production methods. Responsible brands must pressure governments to adopt laws that require companies to publish detailed information on the origin of their raw materials and the working conditions of their employees throughout the value chain. Transparency is the first step towards improving working conditions and reducing environmental impacts.
Promoting sustainable practices through market access
Local and national operators can support sustainable production through concrete actions through market access. This would be one of the most radical measures. Elected officials can thus support companies that engage in sustainable practices by creating market access conditions at several levels. We can imagine selection criteria to obtain the right to open points of sale, marketing rights, or even a mandatory label to respond to public calls for tenders. This would economically encourage a positive transformation of the industry. It is time to recognize that product quality should not be limited to their price, but also to their environmental and social impact.
Promoting a usage economy
Many people recognize that consuming better is now an ecological necessity. By questioning our consumer behaviors and supporting committed brands, we can build a fairer and more sustainable economy. We can create economic solutions to support the consumption of use rather than the consumption of objects. It's not about eliminating the right to property, but rather about promoting and proposing new economic models. The cost of the transition must be borne collectively to build a desirable future for all.
Define and commit to a common direction
By joining forces and focusing on transparency, sustainable practices and changing consumption patterns, we can make a significant impact in our society and build a future that is more respectful of the environment and people . We believe it is time to open a transparent debate on the economic and social practices we wish to support . We will thus be able to collectively define transparent conditions for the emergence of a network of responsible actors. These actions seem necessary to us in order to create the conditions for a sustainable economy for all.
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