Sustainability in manufacturing, as defined by the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM), can be looked at in two ways: meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations’ ability to meet their own needs; and the creation of products using non-polluting, energy-conserving processes, that are safe for people and the environment.
Either way it is defined, it is a practice and a topic that is generating a lot of attention. There are many reasons why companies choose to manufacture sustainably. These decisions can range from the financial to the responsible—companies that utilize sustainable manufacturing often save money and gain a better reputation (translating to more money), and many do so simply because environmental awareness is important to them.