The manufacturing, transport, and logistics sectors play a huge role in the UK economy, but they’re also among the biggest contributors to carbon emissions and environmental damage.

With sustainability becoming an increasingly urgent issue, businesses in these industries face several significant challenges in reducing their environmental impact.

For manufacturers, energy consumption is a primary concern. Factories rely heavily on energy for production, heating, and machinery. While there have been strides toward more energy-efficient technology, many older facilities still use outdated systems, making a switch to greener energy sources like solar or wind a costly and complicated process.

Even as the UK moves toward net zero emissions, the manufacturing sector will have to navigate new regulations, especially with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) potentially affecting trade with Europe. The CBAM will impose tariffs on imported goods with high carbon footprints, which could significantly impact UK manufacturers who rely on European suppliers for raw materials or goods(1).

Another challenge lies in waste management. Many manufacturing processes generate large amounts of waste, and finding ways to reuse or recycle these materials while reducing landfill use is both difficult and expensive. There’s also the pressure to ensure that hazardous waste is disposed of properly, which can involve complex logistics and additional costs(2).

In transport and logistics, carbon emissions are a major issue, with trucks, planes, and ships heavily reliant on fossil fuels. While electric vehicles and cleaner transport options are growing, the costs involved with transitioning fleets remain a significant barrier. Additionally, the UK’s exit from the European Union has made cross-border logistics more complicated, with new customs procedures and trade barriers potentially increasing emissions and delays(3).

Overall, these industries face some tough sustainability hurdles, but with growing regulation and innovation, there are opportunities for improvement-if businesses are ready to embrace change.

Bibliography

1 Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (Accessed May 2025) https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism_en

2 Producer responsibility regulations (Accessed May 2025) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/producer-responsibility-regulations

3 Adapting to Change: The Long-Term Impact of Brexit on UK Logistics (Accessed May 2025) https://www.greenfulfilment.co.uk/brexit-impact-on-uk-logistics/