Three Sustainable Manufacturing Resources

A while back we told you about one medtech outsourcing partner that's trying to become a more sustainable supplier to the industry. Mack Medical's Julie Horst said sustainable manufacturing is becoming as important as ISO certifications these days. 

If you're interested in taking steps to make your manufacturing operations more sustainable, check out these resources:

Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative’s Sustainable Business Clearinghouse
Search more than 850 federal, state, and nongovernmental resources aimed at helping U.S. businesses increase competitiveness and profitability in sustainable ways through this Web portal maintained by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) International Trade Administration. 

OECD Sustainable Manufacturing Toolkit
This guide can help manufacturers start on the path to sustainability in seven steps. It’s produced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an international group that promotes world trade. 

Green Suppliers Network
This program, a joint effort of the EPA, DOC, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, assists small and medium-size manufacturers with technical reviews to identify areas where they can go greener. 

Jamie Hartford is MD+DI's managing editor.