UK manufacturing companies question whether their net zero targets will be reached

Management consultants Vendigital conducted the research in September 2023, asking 201 C-Suite executives in the UK’s manufacturing sector about their net zero plans, priorities and the achievability of these targets.

The research found that 63 per cent of C-suite executives said that sustainability is a high priority for the business, and 31 per cent confirmed that they have a carbon reduction plan in place. The majority (70 per cent) have gone as far as setting ‘net zero by 2030’ targets.

However, 61 per cent said they are not sure whether their sustainability goals will be achieved, suggesting that their plans for delivery may be underdeveloped and under progressed.

Manufacturers recognised that to decarbonise they must look for carbon reduction opportunities. Despite this being ranked as a primary concern, fewer than 31 per cent of respondents were actively looking for carbon reduction opportunities.

In a statement, Alessandra Del Centina, managing consultant at Vendigital, said: “Without clear information about the carbon cost of specific products or processes, it is impossible to identify and prioritise decarbonisation initiatives.