Because manufacturing industry is big in Europe, it is in the radar. When Manufacturing industry takes sustainable manufacturing in its core, the sustainability moves from speeches to actions. Employing over 30 million people, the sustainability impact is multiplied through their families and close ones. The manufacturing industry is a part of European society and increasing demand for sustainably manufactured products will change Manufacturing industry towards sustainability.
The importance of raising awareness on sustainability and circular manufacturing should be emphasized. Europe has the leadership in Circular Economy, but we should still go faster. This will enable Europe not only to produce in a more sustainable way, but to have a worldwide impact on the environment as well.
Importance of improving resource efficiency is a must from multiple reasons, such as increasing material efficiency and need for raw materials, cutting material costs, enabling businesses to pioneer in new markets and to keep the material value in Europe.
The public image of manufacturing industry is not as attractive as gaming or software industries are. Manufacturing industry is transitioning towards IT-driven industry, but communication channels create old fashion image from manufacturing industry. Manufacturing industry will not be totally IT-driven, but the demand for low-skilled manufacturing jobs is declining. However, there will be jobs, which will be close to traditional blue-collar workers - “new-collars”, and this gives opportunity to have jobs to large variety of people.
One major challenge for European Manufacturing Industry is the lack of women in manufacturing. Very few businesses can boast having had a 50% split at any point, and even fewer can maintain it once reaching the equilibrium.
Circular Economy was introduced to school pupils. Even though the competition is over, the Giggly Gadgets workshop can still be run, for example, at school. A meeting with Ministry of the Environment, is planned to discuss the project possible continuation. The idea of in-service teacher training and a workshop for schools has emerged as a united tour across Finland.
