Standardization News

ASTM International’s committee on sustainability (E60) has developed a new guide that will help companies set reasonable, realistic operational objectives for reducing the environmental impact of their own manufacturing processes.

The standard (soon to be published as E3096, Guide for the Definition, Selection, and Organization of Key Performance Indicators for Environmental Aspects of Manufacturing Processes) uses key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure how well an objective for self-improvement is being met.

“Using this guide, industrial users will develop sets of KPIs to assess the sustainability performance of their manufacturing processes,” says ASTM International member Shaw C. Feng of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland. According to Feng, the standard helps users identify what to measure to determine whether their sustainability goals are being met. Good measurements will be specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, relevant, and time-bound, among others.

Manufacturers can use the guide to help set measurement priorities for tracking and reducing environmental impacts, such as harmful substances, that can be generated by the manufacturing process.

Industry professionals are invited to participate in pilot implementations of the guide to help improve future versions based on experience.

Contact: Travis Murdock, tel +1.610.832.9826