ESG - INCIT

Top 5 manufacturing trends to watch in 2025

As we reflect on the trends that defined 2024, we recognise that the manufacturing industry is at a tipping point. With more emphasis and focus on advancing on all fronts – whether it is digitalisation, disruptive technology, operational excellence or ESG performance – CEOs must overcome critical challenges such as addressing their legacy systems, infrastructures, and archaic ways of operating. Advancements in these areas are crucial, especially as we anticipate that 2025 is the year of step-change transformation – where incremental change is no longer sufficient and instead, a significant uplift in performance is required, paving the way to not only achieve Industry 4.0 but also become Industry 5.0-ready. According […]

Why manufacturers must champion environmental justice: a call to arms

In today’s fast-moving and complex world, business leaders have more to consider than ever before. With ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) issues driving the boardroom agenda, societal concerns such as environmental justice have become increasingly important for leaders to understand and address when developing policies and operational strategies. Environmental justice is a social movement that originated in the 1960s when communities began protesting polluting facilities in their neighbourhoods. People started to voice their opposition to large industries that had established landfills and sanitation sites in residential areas, resulting in significant environmental pollution and health hazards for residents. Manufacturers are responsible for caring for and considering the well-being of the local […]

From emissions offender to defender: how manufacturing CEOs can drive positive sustainable change

The manufacturing industry is on the precipice of transformative change largely driven by the sustainability agenda. And CEOs are at the forefront of this change, needing to champion sustainability and environmental justice and also embrace innovative green technologies to cut greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Yet, despite the pressing need for all businesses, regardless of size, to tackle this ecological threat, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that global energy-related emissions grew last year by 1.1%, reaching another record high. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is no end in sight to rising greenhouse gas emissions, with manufacturers singled out as a major contributor. The United Nations Climate Change […]

Flip the script: turning manufacturing social risks into wins

Social risks resemble unpredictable plot twists in a reality TV show—hard to keep up with and almost impossible to foresee. Social risk events can jeopardise a company’s social reputation and relationships. It is the corporate equivalent of accidentally sending an embarrassing email to a company’s entire client list; social risks are anything that tarnish the company’s social standing in the media, community, and with consumers. In today’s digital age, social media amplifies any incident, spreading the impact far and wide. In 2017, United Airlines encountered a public relations nightmare when a video emerged of a man being forcibly removed from an overbooked flight, leading to intense media scrutiny and a […]

The ethical manufacturer: how to balance corporate success with social good

In an increasingly conscientious world, manufacturers are under significant pressure to prioritise corporate social responsibility (CSR) in their operations. The imperative has escalated as governments and customers continue to squeeze manufacturers on either side to action and incorporate CSR and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. According to the United Nations Global Impact (Business & Human Rights Navigator), businesses without clear social policies to protect the environment could have elevated risks, whether reputational and brand, financial, legal or operational. By embracing CSR, manufacturers demonstrate a genuine commitment to impacting the lives of employees and people in surrounding communities positively, according to Forbes. A poll by McKinsey and Company uncovered that approximately 60 per cent of consumers […]

Why green manufacturing can’t succeed without social engagement

The global shift towards green manufacturing in line with net-zero commitments is accelerating, driven by ESG mandates. The European Union’s Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), for instance, requires social engagement with workers and stakeholders to produce green energy equipment locally. It is in response to the US$369 billion of green subsidies extended in the United States (U.S.) Inflation Reduction Act. The new U.S. Act has a US$4 billion allocation to produce a variety of green energy equipment but also has a particular social focus on supporting communities impacted by the closure of coal mines and power plants. Both instances underscore the importance of the social component of the ESG ethos, which […]

The impact of a lack of ESG data governance on sustainability progress in manufacturing

The rising influence of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) expectations are starting to become more and more critical with every passing day for industries, inclusive of manufacturing, but there is a silver lining. It has been suggested by Forbes that ESG-focused activities can be “a golden opportunity to improve your business by adopting best practices that contribute value” but these new strategies also add another significant layer of complexity to manufacturing businesses during an already disruptive time. In relation to sustainability efforts, how important is ESG data governance? ESG data management’s role in sustainable manufacturing The practice of managing and applying ESG-related information effectively, ESG data governance, is increasingly opening […]

ESGのための資本配分の最適化：製造業者にとっての重要な戦略

The focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors today cannot be overstated due to pressing climate issues. Consumers have taken notice and added increasing pressure on companies to take a stand and align ESG with business and operational goals. Many have heeded the call, with ESG-focused institutional investment expected to jump by 84% to US$33.9 trillion in 2026, up from US$18.4 trillion in 2021. In manufacturing, companies are increasingly recognising the importance of ESG factors in driving long-term sustainable growth. One of these key growth drivers is strategic capital allocation, yet many manufacturing leaders are still not doing enough. An EY survey showed that 72% of 500 global CFOs […]

How to establish a carbon-neutral workplace

When it comes to reducing their carbon footprint, most manufacturers tend to prioritise improving the energy efficiency of their production processes and supply chains. No less important to tackle, however, are carbon emissions related to the everyday workplace. Small changes to day-to-day office operations can greatly contribute to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, an improvement in environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics, and greater talent attraction. Over two-thirds of employees say they are more willing to apply and accept jobs from organisations that promote environmental sustainability, while 39% expect their employers to reduce emissions to net-zero within the next few years. But to take effective steps in establishing a more […]

The need to increase water efficiency in manufacturing – and how

Water has really played a pivotal role in the growth and development of society throughout the course of history, with considerable amounts consumed in various industries and through municipal use. The manufacturing industry is not excluded – in the US alone, over 18.2 billion gallons (68 billion litres) are used per day for industrial purposes. Water conservation is essential in manufacturing because efficient manufacturing processes directly affect resource depletion, but effective water use boosts operational efficiency through reduced costs and waste. Water conservation and its environmental impact in manufacturing In the manufacturing sector, water conservation drastically influences both environmental and operational outcomes. According to a U.S. Census Bureau report, over 66 per […]