_______________________________________________________________________________________ Factory of the Future
At ABB, this transformation is well underway. Zero Waste to Landfill is not just a compliance target; it represents a cultural shift across manufacturing operations. Redesigning value chains, re-training teams and replacing longstanding processes with sustainable ones have all been key to progress.
Circularity also extends to materials. When ABB introduced biomass-balanced plastics into its wiring accessories line in Porvoo, Finland, the team had to recalibrate molding tools, redesign quality checks, and manage customer expectations. Each new material requires recertification, a reminder that circular inputs aren’ t a simple swap but a full operational transformation.
Low-carbon manufacturing in practice
ABB’ s Mission to Zero™ initiative demonstrates low-carbon manufacturing in action. At the company’ s Rakovski site in Bulgaria, CO₂e emissions have been reduced by 1,250 tons through measures such as installing heat pumps, upgrading to LED lighting, and optimizing energy use across operations. The factory has cut overall energy consumption by 22 percent and improved energy productivity by 43 percent compared to 2019, showing how smart choices can drive real progress toward net-zero manufacturing.
ABB’ s Santa Palomba facility in Italy provides another example. More than 3,000 photovoltaic panels generate
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