A Practical Approach to Sustainability in 2026: Conversation with New Pig

Manufacturers have a lot on their plate. Tariffs squeeze margins, teams face greater pressure to integrate AI, and companies brace for the downstream effects of geopolitical conflict. Amid a demanding 2026 agenda, leading manufacturers continue to prioritize sustainability as a foundation for long-term growth.

As Earth Day approaches, we wanted to take a closer look at how innovators are evolving their strategies in 2026.

TL;DR

• Sustainable manufacturing continues to be a priority in 2026, with companies targeting production, supply chain, and product design and development.
• By focusing on data, process, and culture, leaders can turn ambitions into actionable goals.
• Progress happens with disciplined, incremental shifts. Start with a small change you can make today!

A New Standard for Manufacturers

Sustainability is an undisputed priority for manufacturers. 95% of manufacturers believe implementing sustainable practices is important, and over half (54%) have rolled out an environmental management system (e.g., ISO 14001). Companies are adopting sustainability programs to stay ahead of tightening regulations and changing customer demand while simultaneously increasing efficiency and stakeholder trust. Leaders deploy initiatives throughout the organization, with manufacturing and production, supply chain, and product design and development being the primary areas of focus (NAM).

While most companies are in favor of implementing eco-friendly practices, the realities of production and value chains make it easier said than done.

Reality Check

Managing environmental impact is complex for manufacturers due to intricate production processes and extensive supply chains. Key operational challenges include high energy usage (37% of global consumption), material inefficiencies (offcuts and packaging), and pollution (VOCs and transport emissions) (Report). Adding to this, up to 70% of a company’s emissions stem from indirect sources (suppliers or customers) known as Scope 3 emissions. While significant, these challenges also create a unique opportunity for manufacturers to lead meaningful change.

A Pragmatic Path Forward

Addressing these challenges requires a structured approach that aligns data, process, and culture to monitor, manage, and reinforce goals.

• Data: Providing teams with the tools to make informed decisions with reliable, real-time data.
• Process: Standardizing and continuously improving internal workflows to better align with broader environmental goals.
• Culture: Recognizing and rewarding the day-to-day behavior that drives results.

Systems like Infor CloudSuite Industrial enable organizations to put this framework into action through:

• Increasing Visibility: Improving KPI visibility (e.g., GHG emissions, resource consumption, and energy use) helps teams take targeted action to reduce inefficiencies.
• Enforcing Best Practices: Applying high standards across business functions, from optimizing production schedules to reduce waste to streamlining shipping to consolidate orders and lower emissions.
• Strengthening Accountability: Helping teams see the impact of their work to promote stronger ownership over initiatives.

For a real-life example of these principles in practice, we spoke with the experts at New Pig about their approach to building a successful program.

Policy in Action: Interview with New Pig

Since 1985, industrial absorbents manufacturer New Pig has played a big part in helping facilities across the globe maintain workplace and environmental safety with solutions for material handling, personal protection, spill response, and more. A longtime friend and customer of Decision Resources, we most recently partnered with New Pig to implement Infor CloudSuite Industrial (SyteLine) version 10.

Now we’ll turn over the mic to Jason Emes, CQE, Director of Environment Health and Safety at New Pig.

1. As a global manufacturer with facilities in the U.S. and internationally, how do you see ESG and sustainability initiatives evolving in 2026 across different regions?

Jason: Packaging requirements are going to become very strict globally. It’s already happening in Europe and I believe North America (including the US) will have to follow. No more “box in a box” or plastic wrapping. New Pig has already been ahead of the game for decades with many of our products’ shipping boxes also serving as the usage/functional box. i.e., spill kits ship in the kit themselves; PIG Mat dispenser box is the shipping box. All of New Pig’s shipping boxes, product boxes, and product wrapping is 100% recyclable.

2. New Pig’s mission has long centered around helping customers manage leaks, drips, and spills. How has that history influenced your company’s approach to sustainability?

Jason: New Pig has been certified to ISO 14001 since 2010. That certification ensures that New Pig is continually improving our environmental performance – not just in the products we sell, but in our own operations.  As the world leader in managing leaks, drips, and spills, we benefit from using our own products at all campus buildings in Central Pennsylvania.  Working at New Pig is an EHS professional’s dream!

3. Can you tell us about New Pig’s Near-Zero environmental policy and what it means in practice for your operations?

Jason: While near zero is a stretch goal, it allows us to never stop trying, never stop squeezing that last pound of waste from the landfill to recyclers and other reuse opportunities.  Never stop picking up that small piece of cardboard that blew onto the lawn at our Tipton campus.  The goal is to minimize New Pig’s impact to the environment here in Central PA in addition to helping hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide do the same.

4. How does technology like Infor CloudSuite Industrial support New Pig’s sustainability initiatives?

Jason: CloudSuite Industrial helps track metrics that support environmental KPI’s like water usage, electricity usage, and waste to landfill.

5. Looking ahead, which sustainability initiatives are most important for New Pig in 2026?

Jason: New Pig’s EHS team summarizes our environmental initiatives each year in May. Some highlights of 2025 include:

• Local volunteer cleanup projects
• Halogen to LED Lighting conversion at all campuses
• Measure and monitor New Pig’s Scope 2 GHG emissions
• Reduce scrap through rework
• Biodegradable packing dunnage
• Donating scrap wipers, absorbents, kits, and other MRO cleanup materials to local fire departments and emergency management agencies

New for 2026 include but not limited to:

• Optimize hauling efficiency for landfill waste hauling
• Increase landfill diversion from 55% to 65% (waste to landfill diverted to recyclers)
• Lower Scope 2 emissions through renewable energy credit purchases
• Measure and monitor New Pig’s Scope 1 GHG emissions
• Identify 2 or more additional landfill waste streams to be recycled or sold for repurpose.
  

6. What advice do you have for other manufacturers seeking to implement similar sustainability initiatives?

Jason: How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time. Don’t get overwhelmed by what you read about other manufacturers who are doing these fantastical huge projects. Take one small project at a time and take the win. Then do the next thing. Then the next thing.

The advice I would share is to take care of just one thing today (put out one aluminum can recycling bin). Then another tomorrow (buy a PIG Spill Kit to be prepared for diesel fuel spill cleanups in your parking lot). You can’t change everything today, but you can do one thing today – so do it.

We couldn’t agree more, Jason!

About the Guest: Jason Emes

As the Director of Environment Health and Safety, Jason Emes, CQE, oversees quality and EHS management at New Pig. He manages New Pig’s ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications and is Six Sigma Green Belt certified. Jason graduated with an MS in Engineering from Penn State Capital College.

Planting the Seeds for a Sustainable Future

This April, we partnered with One Tree Planted to support global reforestation efforts and help offset our carbon footprint. Through our client partnerships, we’ve been able to plant a small forest in North America. Thank you for being part of the Decision Resources community!

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