In this episode, I share a presentation that the Lean Sustainability Global Network (an unofficial team that I’m involved with) gave at the Lean Global Connection virtual conference in Nov 2024.We share how Lean principles can be applied to tackle pressing environmental challenges and improve processes.For example, Lean and Green expands the traditional definition of waste to include:* Energy: Unnecessary use and reliance on polluting sources.



* Water: Unnecessary consumption and associated treatment costs.



* Materials: Losses due to cradle-to-grave design instead of a circular economy approach.



* Garbage: Costs of disposal and environmental impact.



* Transportation: Unnecessary movement and fossil fuel reliance.



* Emissions: Pollution and potential fines.



* Biodiversity: Direct destruction and overexploitation of resources.This can be accomplished by integrating Green into existing Lean Practices:* Workshops and Training: Educate employees on Lean and Green principles and conduct problem-solving workshops focused on sustainability.



* Applying a Green Lens to Existing Tools: Analyze processes like spaghetti diagrams and value stream mapping with a focus on environmental impact factors like carbon emissions, energy usage, and waste generation.



* Gemba Walks with a Green Focus: Conduct “energy treasure hunts” to identify energy-saving opportunities and engage employees in finding sustainable solutions.



* What is exciting is that implementing Lean and Green initiatives often leads to reduced energy consumption, waste reduction, and improved efficiency, translating into tangible cost savings. It also directly correlates process improvements with reduced carbon emissions, which is good for the planet, but also can attract environmentally conscious customers and investors.At the end, we conclude with a call to action for those interested in joining an upcoming webinar related to the quiz results: building a business case for sustainability and integrating green into value stream mapping.Listen to the podcast on this page, or watch the entire presentation with slides below, or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ozlLpv_xg4



Links* Presenters* Marcelo Pinto Dabike



* Bruno Battaglia



* John Hamalian



* Brion Hurley



* Alister Lee



* Lean Sustainability Global Network



* Lean Global Connection (LGN) 2024* All presentations from LGN 2024



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