A Closer Look at the DOE’s Better Plants Program
Climate change is a crisis that companies big and small are prioritizing in their internal improvement efforts. They’re conserving energy, recycling materials, sourcing sustainably, and producing environmentally safe products. We’re a long way from a circular economy, but we’re arguably closer than we were even a few years ago.
As the march toward sustainability continues, it’s important to recognize the programs and initiatives bringing us closer to a more habitable future. Among them is the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Plants program, an effort making tremendous strides in manufacturing sustainability.
Sustainability in manufacturing is more important than ever
In today’s factory, sustainability is nonnegotiable. Many businesses both in the United States and abroad are focusing on protecting the planet. As more consumers reach for sustainable brands, brands reach for sustainable manufacturers. There’s an upward cascading effect forcing sustainable change at the point of creation.
For example, mega brands like Apple have made it a point to realign manufacturing practices to reduce waste and improve recyclability. TOMS, long lauded for its business practices, now conducts regular audits of its manufacturing practices to ensure they align with increasingly better environmental standards. The list of brands prioritizing sustainable manufacturing grows longer each year.
What these brands and many others are finding is that sustainable manufacturing is also cost effective. Aside from protecting their bottom line, producers are promoting sustainability as a means of both protecting the environment and earning them a more ardent customer following. Environmental stewards gain the favor of consumers, which captures market share in the service of people, profits, and the planet — the triple bottom line.
The Better Plants program is already achieving sustainable goals
Manufacturers need to promote sustainability, and the DOE is partnering with the industry to make the process easier through the Better Plants program. By working with leading U.S. manufacturers, the DOE aspires to achieve ambitious goals focused on decreasing waste, conserving energy, reducing carbon, and much more.
To date, more than 270 industrial organizations have joined the Better Plants program, and this number continues growing. These organizations have made a commitment to reduce energy intensity across their facilities, unlocking potential energy and cost savings that can be reinvested into the workforce and domestic economy.
Manufacturing is leading the charge to betterment
Better Plants is already making a difference. As of 2021, partners have reported 1.9 quadrillion British thermal units and $9 billion in savings. Those figures will increase exponentially as partners continue to implement sustainable initiatives and processes and as more organizations join the cause.
While Better Plants has already achieved tremendous success in a short time, manufacturing as a whole is still far from being truly sustainable, but every step counts. As more producers embrace sustainability by reducing energy and water waste, they not only save money and increase their competitiveness, but also become more resilient and maintain a stronger workforce.
There’s still a long way to go, and manufacturers must answer the call to work toward a more sustainable future — one that preserves business, profits, and the planet.
