Manufacturing and construction generates an average of nearly 25% of CO2 emissions in the Asian countries where we work. To curb climate change, we need to break the bond between economic growth, harmful environmental degradation, and unsafe working conditions – especially in the world’s largest and fastest growing economies. The growth of factories has increased employment and expanded opportunities – for women in particular – yet it has also been characterized by pollution, climate change, and alarming risks to workers’ health and safety.
By focusing on Asia’s manufacturing sector, ISC is tackling the air pollution, toxic effluents, water mismanagement, and energy inefficiencies resulting from the region’s rapid industrialization.
ISC’s sustainable manufacturing initiatives address these challenges head-on by:
- Demonstrating to factories that environment, health, and safety improvements can go hand-in-hand with improved competitiveness and profitability.
- Enabling them, in coordination with the global and local brands they supply, to adopt climate-smart and socially compliant technologies and practices that result in greener, safer production.
- Connecting factories with their surrounding communities, which helps tackle resource issues of common concern – like water management. These strengthened partnerships lead to greater community and supply chain resilience.