The survey highlights that today’s leading companies are focusing their sustainability efforts on reducing GHG emissions, minimizing waste through streamlined product portfolios and redesigning logistics networks for shifting labour dynamics – both internal and supplier developments. Looking ahead to 2030, the survey results anticipate that companies’ focus will increasingly be placed on adopting cradle-to-cradle product design and closed-loop business models to minimize environmental impact. An increasing prioritization will also be placed on sustainable raw materials and packaging, setting quantifiable sustainability targets and actively reducing Scope 3 emissions through collaboration with manufacturing and logistics partners. Finally, the survey revealed that organizations will continue strengthening commitments to ethics while investing in continuous reskilling and upskilling programmes to prepare employees for a rapidly evolving, technology- driven economy (Figure 2).3.1 Integrated sustainability The automated gathering of real-time energy data for both building and production via nearly 400 smart meters delivered high-resolution, real- time monitoring and identified abnormal use of electricity, gas, water and solar photovoltaic to trigger follow-ups, including optimizing building and production energy efficiency through smart control (using AI model) of air conditioner and compressed air system, operational data analytics (smart OEE platform), predictive maintenance and green automation solutions. The result was increased efficiency: more products produced for less energy consumed.USE CASE Smart holistic energy management using digital solutions: Siemens Industrial Automation, Chengdu, China Schneider Electric Wuxi introduced an innovative circular business model, offering take-back, exchange and refurbishing services with delivery within 24 hours. A life-cycle managing platform uses IoT to monitor product status in real time and track the exchange of orders initiated by customers’ repairing or replacing demands. Raw materials and the life cycle CO2 footprint of circular products is largely more efficient compared to the manufacture of new ones. These circular products adhere to the same quality standards as new products.USE CASE End-to-end circular business model facilitating resource efficiency and decarbonization: Schneider Electric, Wuxi Industrial Park, China To mitigate knowledge-transfer and skill- enhancement challenges due to language barriers and inexperience, an in-house-developed augmented reality (AR) device was introduced, offering real-time dialogue with less than 250 milliseconds’ delay in Chinese, English and Vietnamese, ensuring immersive interaction between remote experts and shop-floor operators to troubleshoot equipment failures together. The AR device also enables remote experts to mark specific parts in a 3D space for clear, precise instructions to operators. After each recorded session, a computerized visual record of the operators’ work is created, selecting and archiving important images for sequences for documentation and feedback loops for further training opportunities.USE CASE AR-enabled multilingual remote guidance: Foxconn Industrial Internet, Shenzhen, China From Shock to Strategy: Building Value Chains for the Next 30 Years 10

From Shock to Strategy 2025