A paradigm shift is occurring in the manufacturing sector, moving away from business-as-usual. Both consumers and stakeholders alike are demanding more sustainable measures — and the manufacturing industry must take note of the shift.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are at the center of the sustainability discussion, and they have a profound impact on how the industry will make strategic decisions today and in the future.

In this article, you will learn what the SDGs are, how they impact the manufacturing industry, and how sustainable alternatives are shaping a new narrative in the tire industry, specifically.

What are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals enacted by the United Nations in 2015 to bring prosperity, peace, and partnership to all people on the planet by 2030. The sustainable development proposed for current and future generations has three dimensions – economic, social, and ecological.

Both the United States and the European Union have taken steps to align with the SDGs. The EU has made notable contributions, such as the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, while in the U.S., various sectors are increasingly aligning corporate sustainability with SDGs due to consumer and stakeholder pressure.

However, progress toward the fulfillment of the SDGs has been uneven, especially with setbacks like the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Economic: Loss of 255 million jobs and a 4.6% fall in global GDP.
• Ecological: Greenhouse gas emissions increased despite a brief reduction during the pandemic.
• Social: Increases in poverty, alongside reversals in gains for children’s and women’s rights, health, and education.

Manufacturing and the SDGs

The manufacturing sector plays a crucial role in reaching these benchmarks. Current practices often lead to overexploitation of resources and significant waste generation, which conflicts with the sustainability incentives of the SDGs.

In both the U.S. and the EU, legislation and initiatives are pushing manufacturers toward adopting circular models. For example, the EU’s Waste Framework Directive and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s sustainability and recycling programs encourage producers to reuse, recycle, and recover materials rather than sending them to landfills.

Which SDGs matter the most to manufacturing?

Manufacturers can fulfill their sustainability commitments by focusing on the following SDGs:

• SDG 7: Increase the use of renewable fuels and cleaner fossil fuel technologies.
• SDG 8: Encourage the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and enhance their role in global supply chains.
• SDG 9: Develop and use innovations that support a circular and bio-economy.
• SDG 12: Redesign products to reduce natural resource use and make production sustainable.
• SDG 13: Reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing and supply chains.
• SDG 17: Forge partnerships between the private and public sectors to implement sustainable business models.

Impact of the circular economy on the industry

Companies embracing the SDGs must not only attract and retain customers but also investors and employees. Often, their licenses depend on sustainability commitments. We see companies taking corporate social responsibility more seriously by adopting circular economies, based on the cradle-to-cradle philosophy, to rethink production and achieve sustainability.

Some emerging trends include:

• Retaining product ownership and collecting them after use to access raw materials.
• Extending product life to compete against cheaper, low-quality alternatives.

The United Nations also recommends the circular model to help industries meet their SDG targets and tackle unsustainable practices.

Supporting companies with the SDGs

Innovative companies in the tire industry are using pyrolysis technology to recover materials from waste tires and contribute to a circular economy. Pyrolysis produces recovered Carbon Black and pyrolytic oil, which can replace virgin materials and support tire producers in reaching their SDGs and carbon reduction targets.

These efforts align with several SDGs that tire manufacturers are working on:

• SDG 3 – Good health and well-being: Pyrolysis methods help reduce hazardous air, water, and land pollution.
• SDG 6 – Clean water and sanitation: The process improves local water quality by reducing the dumping of tire waste.
• SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy: Sustainable pyrolytic gas generated during tire treatment can be used as an energy source.
• SDG 9 – Industry, innovation, and infrastructure: Proprietary innovations in pyrolysis improve resource-use efficiency and product quality.
• SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production: The circular model ensures that tire production is more sustainable.
• SDG 13 – Climate action: Each ton of end-of-life tires (ELT) diverted from incineration prevents substantial CO2 emissions.
• SDG 15 – Life on land: By reducing incineration, the process minimizes pollutants that degrade land and freshwater bodies.

SDGs in manufacturing

The SDGs present not only a framework but also an opportunity for new growth in manufacturing. By following the SDG guidelines, manufacturers can reduce their impact on climate change and drive sustainable action across their businesses. Tire recovery technologies like pyrolysis provide valuable solutions for various industries, helping them achieve sustainability goals.

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