Supporting sustainability and climate action world-wide

The role of weighing instrument manufacturers

Ian Turner

CECIP

Citation: I. Turner 2026 OIML Bulletin LXVII(2) 20260207

Introduction

As the world moves towards understanding the consequences of climate change and the seemingly inexorable rise in CO₂ levels, we all have a role to play in supporting both sustainability and climate action. Sustainability is a difficult-to-define notion but can be seen in the definition offered by the Brundtland Report as “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [1]. Climate Action refers to the efforts taken to combat climate change and its impacts, and its aims can best be seen in Goal 13 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [2]. All of us must work together to meet these ambitions and this short article will look at the contributions that the European Weighing Industry is making to achieving them.

Monitoring the SDGs

The OIML has a clear understanding of both the importance of measurement in monitoring climate change [3] and the achievement of sustainable development goals. Weighing instrument manufacturers have a fundamental role in providing the tools to achieve this and giving confidence to all stakeholders that change is occurring.

Waste reduction through precision

High accuracy automatic and non-automatic weighing instruments help minimize both product overfill and material wastage. This is important not only to ensure business and customers are treated fairly and equitably, excessive packaging and food waste are minimized, and businesses are able to make accurate reports to the authorities on the amount of packaging used. The weighing instruments used can include high accuracy dosing systems in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and high-speed automatic weighers which can utilize weight data for the continuous improvement of the production process. The analysing of weight data over time not only allows compliance with packaged goods regulations and the improvement of material efficiency but over a longer time will allow packers to predict waste levels and optimize the use of raw materials.

Promoting the Circular Economy and Recycling

The success of the circular economy relies on the ability to separate quickly and accurately those materials that can be reused and those that cannot. Weighing instruments will weigh the waste upon arrival to monitor incoming volume and identify contamination levels which will in turn help meet performance metrics for total recycling targets. These instruments will also help track efficiency, ensuring the right materials are sent for recycling. Businesses in this sector are beginning to see the arrival of robotic systems utilising AI that are used to analyse and record specific material streams and achieve greater levels or recycling.

Lowering Carbon Footprints in Logistics

The use of mobile weighing systems integrated into forklifts and pallet trucks allows for the elimination of energy consuming trips to fixed floor scales, and the use of axle weighing technology allows vehicles to be weighed whilst moving, preventing long lines of waiting trucks for static weighbridges, reducing truck idling times and the associated CO₂ emissions. Route optimizations systems utilize on board weighing systems which enable optimum loading and efficient logistics and the consequent reduction in pollutants.

Sustainable Product Design and Operation

In conjunction with the vital role weighing instrument manufacturers play in helping achieve sustainability targets and helping with climate action we must also consider the instruments themselves; manufacturers are putting considerable efforts to ensure the instruments have the lowest carbon footprint possible. They are developing instruments with low power consumption, automatic standby modes and solar powered capabilities. The instruments are increasingly made of recycled materials and there is a shift away from paper consumables for record keeping towards cloud-based paperless data management.

Finally, we must not forget the increasing role of real time date in predictive maintenance which will allow the building of alerts when parts are wearing down. The ability to keep the instruments running efficiently prevents breakdowns, raw material waste and unnecessary repairs.

Conclusion

This brief glimpse into the role and significance of weighing instruments in supporting sustainability and climate action gives us an insight into some of the steps weighing companies are taking to help achieve these goals. Never has the attributed quote of Peter Drucker been more clearly illustrated: “If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it”. Without effective measurement we do not know if the sustainability and climate targets are being met, and the weighing industry is playing an active part in helping achieve the key measurements.