The Manufacturing Commission has issued a call for evidence to support its forthcoming inquiry into Sustainable Manufacturing.  Following two scoping sessions this Autumn, the aim of this inquiry is to explore how the manufacturing sector can become more resilient, sustainable, and productive, whilst remaining on track to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Since the beginning of the year, the manufacturing sector has played a crucial role in the UK’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Firms have repurposed production and reorganised their businesses to respond to unprecedented new demands, in particular for medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment.  In spite of this response, the sector is likely to be amongst the worst affected by the current recession, which appears to be deeper than either our G7 or EU peers. 

However, the crisis also offers an opportunity to reflect on the resilience of the manufacturing sector and formulate a roadmap for how it can build back better and stronger.  This forthcoming inquiry will review the sector’s resilience to external shocks – not only pandemics but also financial crisis and climate-related events.  It will consider the skills that will be required to develop the technologies that we will rely upon to meet the UK’s net-zero target.  Finally, the work will set out how the principals of sustainability, including resource conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction and circularity can be put at the heart of businesses’ recovery plans.

To participate, please review the questions within the attached document and respond to any that fall within your area of interest or expertise.  The Commission welcomes all types of evidence including data, papers, personal, and organisational views on these issues.  Submissions of evidence will not be published or shared with third parties.  We will publish the names of organisations who have responded to this call for evidence within the final report, unless you inform us not to.

The deadline for submission of evidence is Friday 5th February 2021.  Evidence can be submitted to robert.allen [at] policyconnect.org.uk (robert[dot]allen[at]policyconnect[dot]org[dot]uk)