Not only polluting companies, but also regulators are under fire. And I can understand that. Social pressure is mounting. The industry sector needs to be 100% circular and climate neutral by 2050, but how? And is the government chasing industry enough?
Dutch industry would already lead the way when it comes to sustainable production. Yet both companies and the central government have taken steps to accelerate even more and better coordinate initiatives. This comes together in the National Programme on Sustainable Manufacturing.
Good news, because in February, Rabobank research showed that the necessary acceleration within the manufacturing industry had not yet started in any case. Compared to 2022, hardly any progress has been made. And that while sustainable companies are more future-proof and financeable, according to the bank.
The 20 companies surveyed by Rabobank obviously do not represent the entire manufacturing industry, but their responses are interesting. Because while you would expect increased energy costs to be the most important reason to become more sustainable, entrepreneurs are actually most motivated by cashing in on market opportunities with a sustainable product.
Customers increasingly demand sustainable alternatives and legal obligations play a role. For example, large companies will have to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as early as 2024. They will then be obliged to report on their impact on people and the climate. For this reporting, companies also need to know how sustainable their suppliers are. Incidentally, the intrinsic motivation to leave a better world behind only comes fifth for the companies surveyed. Lack of knowledge about sustainability, insufficient capacity and the difficulty of predicting returns make companies uncertain. This uncertainty slows down the sustainability process within the manufacturing industry. Understandable, although sustainability requirements do not suddenly appear out of thin air. That is why it is good that the government, including with the National Programme for Sustainability in Manufacturing, is taking more of a lead. After all, given the negative consequences of the changing climate, delaying is not an option.
