Rethinking Manufacturing: How Local Production And Tech Drive A More Sustainable Future

This shift from old, wasteful methods to a new, more sustainable approach benefits everyone—makers, creators, consumers and, most importantly, our planet.

When you’re shopping for a new shirt or a piece of artwork for your home, you want it fast, expect good quality and, increasingly, are concerned about its sustainability. This is especially true if you're part of the Gen-Z or Millennial generations who favor—and will pay more for—products offering personalization from companies that pay attention to more sustainable practices.

The thing is that beyond selecting the product, reading the reviews, personalizing it if applicable and hitting the purchase button, there's a whole product life cycle that remains out of sight for most of us—and that's how a product is made, and its journey to your doorstep. Unfortunately, traditional manufacturing and global trade aren't always a pretty picture.

The Current State Of Production

The clothes you wear, books you read and art on your walls are products usually produced in mass quantities that are determined by guessing the demand. They’re produced in one country and then shipped long distances to billions of consumers in various corners of the world. It’s wasteful, inefficient and more expensive than it needs to be.

In fact, mass production is notorious for inefficiency, and carbon emissions related to transporting products around the world are significant. The traditional model of creating vast quantities of products in centralized factories only to ship them worldwide is unsustainable. This model is ripe for transformation, especially at a time when sustainability is moving to the forefront of consumer consciousness and the world continues to operate digitally.

There’s a better way, and it’s already in motion. Modern technology provides us with the tools to transform production—making it smarter, faster and greener. I believe the world largely sticks to the old way for two reasons. First, most of us aren’t aware of how inefficient and unsustainable the current way is. Second, many of us don’t know that viable, better ways of producing exist today that don't require sacrifices in speed, quality or cost. On the contrary, newer models enhance these aspects.

The Shift To On-Demand And Local Production

One better way is on-demand production. This model negates the need to produce vast quantities of goods in anticipation of demand. Instead, items are only made when someone orders them—perfectly matching supply with demand, minimizing waste drastically and effectively combating overproduction and unnecessary landfill contributions.

Alongside on-demand production, there is an emphasis on local manufacturing. For instance, instead of an item being made in China and shipped to a consumer in California, it could be made on demand locally in California. This significantly cuts down on transportation emissions and might even eliminate the need for carbon-heavy shipping methods like air freight. Additionally, it bolsters local economies and communities.

Technology And The Digital Era As A Catalyst For Change

The good news is that the shift to on-demand and local production is happening due to macro trends at play. For instance, the surge in e-commerce, fortified by mobile connectivity, has fundamentally shifted production from macro to micro orders, favoring digital processes over traditional production. The emergence of this digital culture has decentralized production, creating personalized, on-demand manufacturing options that are not only feasible but preferred.

The Role Of 3D Printing

The advent of 3D printing is set to amplify these benefits further. 3D printing technology enables precise, on-demand manufacturing of goods with significantly reduced material waste. Recent forecasts predict that the 3D printing market could grow nearly six-fold by 2030, reaching almost $106 billion, driven by its ability to produce complex designs with minimal resource use and its alignment with the values of the circular economy. When 3D printing is widely available, we can produce certain items where they're needed, when they're needed and with very little waste.

We Can Speed The Transition

While empowering e-commerce and the creator economy, the transformation from central mass manufacturing to local, on-demand production represents a profound shift in how retailers can operate more sustainably. The evolution is occurring organically based on macro trends, and we can come together to make conscious decisions to speed the shift.

By adopting production technologies and rethinking our manufacturing models, we can meet modern consumers' needs more efficiently and sustainably. This shift from old, wasteful methods to a new, more sustainable approach benefits everyone—makers, creators, consumers and, most importantly, our planet. This dynamic evolution in production isn't just a trend—it's the blueprint for a better, more sustainable future in manufacturing and global trade.