The World Economic Forum has published, with Tata Consultancy Services, a guide to decarbonising manufacturing and supply chains. It argues that cutting emissions can support industrial growth, resilience and competitiveness.
The paper says manufacturers should treat decarbonisation as a core business strategy rather than a compliance exercise. It draws on consultations with more than 50 industry leaders, experts and innovators across 13 industrial sectors.
Its findings suggest companies do not have to choose between cutting emissions and improving performance. The guide groups the business case into three areas: lower operating costs, stronger business continuity and resilience, and new revenue opportunities.
The green economy now exceeds USD $5 trillion a year and is growing at twice the pace of conventional revenues, the Forum says. Yet while two-thirds of the world's largest publicly listed companies have net-zero targets, only 8% have decarbonisation plans and 4% have allocated working capital to implement them.
The guide sets out a staged approach for manufacturers. It recommends starting with efficiency improvements such as process optimisation, asset upgrades and energy savings, before moving to renewable energy, electrification and other clean-energy measures.
Over time, companies can work with suppliers and customers to change products, materials, business models and wider value chains, the report says. It presents this as a way to build momentum through early cost savings before taking on more complex changes.
The paper reviews 10 solution areas, including process efficiency, electrification, fuel switching, energy storage, sustainable product design, circular business models, carbon capture, supplier collaboration, reducing product-use emissions and digitalisation.
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