A Field Study of Drivers and Barriers to Implement Sustainable Manufacturing

The concept of sustainability combines the environmental, social, and economic factors, known as the Triple Bottom Line (TPL) Model. These environmental, social, and economic factors come into play while designing, developing, and manufacturing any sustainability related product. Companies need to increase the impact of the driving factors and reduce the impact of barriers as far as possible to implement sustainable manufacturing without compromising the ability of future genarations to meet their own needs. In this study, these driving factors and the barriers to implement sustainable manufacturing are investigated according to the environmental, social, and economic perspectives. This study finds that corporate social responsibility and senior management’s approach factors appear to be the dominant motivations to implement sustainable manufacturing. Furthermore, lack of awareness and knowledge and lack of government support and incentives factors was considered to be the largest obstacle encountered in the implementation of sustainable manufacturing.