Manufacturing supply chains across every industry sector are increasingly focused on sustainability, emphasizing efforts to reduce environmental impact and promote efficiency. Manufacturers are implementing measures to understand the impact of their operations, minimize waste generation, and establish effective recycling programs. Embracing renewable energy sources and adopting energy-efficient technologies are becoming standard practices. 

These efforts reflect a collective commitment within the manufacturing sector to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship and social responsibility.  In addition to the primary goals usually associated with sustainability improvement efforts, spin-off benefits resulting in reduced supply chain risk are often realized.

This presentation will provide an overview of the Cobalt-60 supply chain, manufacturing facilities, and fundamental processes that have been developed to ensure the reliable supply of over a billion curies to the gamma sterilization industry.  We will then examine improvements from across the supply chain that have steadily reduced the environmental impact of Cobalt-60 production including facility design and operation, operational planning and execution, and innovations to optimize the recycling of Co-60 and minimize process wastes generated.