Analyzing Sustainable Manufacturing Barriers to Improve Its Adoption

Sustainable manufacturing (SM) is a key strategy for achieving long-term economic growth while minimizing environmental impact and enhancing social responsibility. However, its adoption remains limited, particularly in developing countries such as India. This chapter examines the main challenges hindering the effective implementation of SM practices in the Indian manufacturing sector. The study employs the Robust Best Worst Method (RBWM), a decision-making tool designed to prioritize factors based on expert judgment. The researchers identified 18 obstacles and categorized them into five groups: knowledge-based, organizational, financial, regulatory, and technical. Twelve experts representing industry, academia, politics, and consulting evaluated these challenges through structured pairwise comparisons. The RBWM model was then used to determine normalized weights and rankings, using sensitivity analysis conducted to ensure stability and reliability. The findings indicate that the most significant challenges include limited access to clean technologies, high initial investment costs, and insufficient commitment from senior management. Issues related to training and knowledge were also significant factors, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The results provide a prioritized roadmap for policymakers, business leaders, and sustainability experts to promote the wider adoption of SM. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research to explore the interrelationships between barriers and strategies specific to different sectors, along with recommendations for managers and policymakers.