Rockwell Automation has recently published its 2023 Sustainability Report, outlining the firm's sustainability progress and commitments. The company is making strides towards sustainable change and impact by collaborating with the manufacturing industry and communities around the globe. The report specifically accentuates the critical role of smart manufacturing technologies in achieving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals.
Survey results in the report indicate that manufacturers are prioritising sustainability for operational efficiency and profitability. "We've been improving the efficiency of industrial processes for more than 120 years, which includes making the most of scarce resources," stated Rockwell Automation Chairman & CEO, Blake Moret. He added, "Today, our technology and expertise help manufacturers in diverse industries address the complex challenge of making high-quality products at scale while minimising negative impacts on the environment."
The report offers some key points about the company's endeavours in the Asia Pacific region. Most notably, Rockwell Automation's Asia Pacific Business Center in Singapore was honoured with the Ministry of Manpower and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) GOLD Award in 2023, making it the 16th consecutive year the company has received this award. This accolade evidences Rockwell Automation’s commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace environment.
Another major highlight of the report is the company's initiative to drive circular economy practices by focusing on investments linked to sustainability insights, particularly repair and remanufacturing. The initiative began in North America in 2023 and is due to expand to customers in Latin America and the Asia Pacific markets in 2024, demonstrating Rockwell's commitment to global sustainable practices.
Rockwell Automation has also been working with Arizona State University (ASU) since 2018 to provide immersive, hands-on experiences with advanced manufacturing technologies. ASU, an implementation partner for the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), is leading the expansion of education in advanced manufacturing in Southeast Asia. This educational collaboration further underscores the importance of industry partnerships to develop skills relevant for the future and equips workforce comfortable using these new tools.
Speaking on this, Moret voiced, "In a time when workforce and skill shortages impact manufacturers in every industry, enabling people to become comfortable with the newest technology and giving them opportunities to upskill along the way can be the difference between success and failure. When a human-centric approach is applied to technology implementation, we see improvement in nearly every aspect of the manufacturing operation—from efficiency to worker safety—delivering results that have a positive impact on both the bottom line and sustainability."
The Sustainability Report charts Rockwell Automation's progress towards its ESG journey. In 2020, the company set the goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 and the report highlights the company's efforts to achieve this target, including information about Rockwell's Scope 3 emissions. Furthermore, new 2023 ESG initiatives like the UN Global Compact, the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and the formation of a Product Design for Sustainability team highlight Rockwell's proactive actions towards sustainability.