Two Examples of Sustainability (manufacturing and finance)
Introduction
Below is a list of customised sustainability issues tailored to the Manufacturing and Finance sectors:
A. Sustainability Issues Checklist – Manufacturing Sector
- Environmental Sustainability
- Reduce carbon emissions from factories and transport
- Transition to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, bioenergy)
- Increase energy efficiency of machinery and processes
- Optimise water usage in manufacturing processes
- Treat and manage industrial wastewater and emissions
- Minimise production waste and scrap materials
- Use recycled, biodegradable, or eco-friendly raw materials
- Design for reuse, remanufacture, or recycling (circular economy)
- Reduce packaging waste and non-biodegradable materials
- Monitor and mitigate air and noise pollution from operations
- Protect surrounding ecosystems and manage land use impact
- Social Sustainability
- Ensure safe working conditions and reduce occupational hazards
- Provide regular health and safety training
- Promote fair pay, rights and conditions for factory workers
- Support local suppliers and communities near manufacturing sites
- Ensure diversity and inclusion across workforce levels
- Prevent modern slavery and labour exploitation in supply chain
- Respect Indigenous land and cultural heritage during site development
- Address concerns raised by unions, workers and communities
- Economic Sustainability
- Improve production efficiency to reduce costs and waste
- Invest in sustainable product innovation and eco-design
- Maintain equipment for longer operational life and minimal downtime
- Monitor cost-benefit of sustainable upgrades and retrofits
- Source raw materials responsibly and ethically
- Implement sustainable procurement policies
- Prepare for supply chain disruptions (e.g. climate, geopolitical risks)
- Comply with environmental regulations and standards (e.g. ISO 14001)
- Strategic & Reporting
- Publish sustainability or environmental performance reports
- Track energy, emissions and water KPIs regularly
- Engage stakeholders (suppliers, regulators, customers) in sustainability dialogue
- Align operations with global frameworks (e.g. SDGs, GRI, TCFD)
- Build a sustainability culture across plant and office teams
B. Sustainability Issues Checklist – Finance Sector
- Environmental Sustainability
- Reduce carbon footprint of office buildings and operations
- Use renewable energy in branches and data centres
- Promote paperless operations and digital services
- Green procurement for office supplies and services
- Support green infrastructure and energy-efficient buildings
- Include environmental criteria in investment and lending decisions
- Fund or underwrite renewable energy and climate resilience projects
- Social Sustainability
- Promote diversity, equity and inclusion in leadership and hiring
- Ensure ethical treatment and wellbeing of employees
- Offer ethical financial products that serve all communities
- Address financial exclusion and support vulnerable groups
- Prevent human rights violations in investment portfolios
- Support Indigenous-led businesses and cultural initiatives
- Build community partnerships and local impact initiatives
- Economic Sustainability
- Embed ESG criteria in lending, investing and underwriting policies
- Monitor portfolio risk exposure to climate and social issues
- Develop green and sustainable finance products (eg green bonds)
- Provide long-term value to shareholders and society
- Build resilience to financial risks from environmental or social shocks
- Comply with evolving sustainability regulations and taxonomies
- Avoid financing or investing in fossil fuels and harmful industries
- Strategic & Reporting
- Align with sustainability reporting frameworks (eg ISSB, TCFD, SASB)
- Engage investors, clients and regulators on ESG priorities
- Publicly report on ESG metrics and sustainability performance
- Integrate ESG into credit risk assessment and due diligence
- Train staff on responsible finance and sustainable investing principles
(main source: https://sdgs.un.org/goals)