Roughly 20% of global CO₂ emissions—one-third of electricity consumption—and the future of our planet: In 2025, the industry carries more responsibility than ever before (IEA, 2023). Decarbonization, the circular economy, and digital efficiency are key levers. But while technology advances, political uncertainties act as a brake. Climate goals are being rolled back in major economies like the U.S. and Germany, which raises the question: How committed are we to sustainability, really? And is industry driving transformation—or being driven by it? Let’s take a look at key trends and how SCIO is putting them into practice.
Decarbonization remains the top priority. With 23% of global CO₂ emissions attributed to the industrial sector, the industry must finally deliver in 2025. The concept is crystal clear: Electrify industrial processes, implement carbon capture and storage (CCS), and expand green hydrogen technologies. But implementation is lagging behing. Forecasts indicate that full electrification of industry would double electricity demand—an enormous challenge given the slow expansion of renewable energy. Political dynamics don’t help matters: When major industrial nations weaken their climate strategies or even roll back targets, the pressure shifts onto companies. The question remains: Are voluntary initiatives enough, or are stricter regulations needed?
A significant portion of global waste comes from industry. In 2025, it’s time to move away from a throwaway mentality and toward circular business models that recycle raw materials and minimize waste. Germany introduced a "National Circular Economy Strategy" in 2024, setting clear targets—but due to political shifts, its future remains uncertain. That means companies must take the lead in developing resilient, resource-efficient solutions. The global industrial waste management market was valued at $1.05 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow by 6.22% annually, reflecting increased investments in waste management solutions worldwide (Fortune Business Insights, 2025). Modern technologies and retrofitting offer enormous potential to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.
AI, IoT, predictive maintenance, and smart cobots have enormous potential to optimize processes, improve resource efficiency, and reduce emissions (Reichelt elektronik, 2024). So why is digitalization still moving so slowly? There are a multitude of reasons for this: high implementation costs, a lack of expertise, and slow adoption are major roadblocks. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle the most, while large corporations benefit from economies of scale (BVMW, 2022).
According to an EU survey, 37% of companies struggle with accessing raw materials, and the trend toward reshoring—bringing production back home—is accelerating (EIB.ORG, 2024). While this increases supply chain control and security, the cost is still a major challenge. This is where digital solutions come into play: With digital twins and AI-driven data analytics, companies can align production processes with sustainability goals cost-effectively. But the path isn’t easy-investments in IT infrastructure are needed, posing a major challenge for many businesses. Is it a vicious cycle?
Conclusion
CO₂ reduction, circular economy, transparent supply chains, and digitalization: These are the areas where the industry must prove in 2025 that it’s taking responsibility. But the reality still looks different: Many companies struggle to implement sustainable solutions due to lacking infrastructure and technology. And it’s not just technological or economic hurdles—political decisions are also slowing progress. As climate goals falter, the industry's responsibility grows—not to wait for regulatory incentives, but to proactively drive sustainability. The vision might still be bigger than what’s being implemented right now, but that doesn’t mean the path isn’t achievable. This is where we at SCIO Automation steps in.
“This transformation is a long-term process—and we communicate that openly. That’s why we set clear milestones, both internally and externally, measuring progress to keep moving in the right direction. Today, as an end-to-end automation partner, we offer solutions across various industries that support companies in transitioning to a sustainable factory and increasing their competitiveness—let’s continue this journey together!”
[Michael Goepfarth, CEO SCIO Automation]