Developing and Monitoring Socio-Environmental Indicators for the INOV.AM Consortium: A Baseline Approach ^†

Sustainability concerns have increasingly driven funding for innovation initiatives across Europe. The INOV.AM Agenda, comprising 71 Portuguese entities, was established to promote scientific and technological innovation in Additive Manufacturing (AM) by integrating AM with traditional production methods to improve efficiency and sustainability. A key activity of the Agenda is sustainability management, which evaluates companies’ socio-environmental performance before, during, and after implementation to assess improvements and alignment with the consortium’s targets. The INOV.AM Agenda aims to analyze its socio-environmental performance from the baseline year (2022) until the post-project phase (2027), while the primary goal of this study was specifically to assess the consortium’s preliminary performance using socio-environmental indicators for the baseline year (2022). A total of twenty-two indicators were selected—three environmental and six social indicators—all initially planned, supplemented by twelve additional ones to ensure a more comprehensive impact assessment. The socio-environmental indicators were designed in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework, ensuring comparability and alignment with international sustainability standards. The indicators cover key themes such as energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation, water and effluent management, workers’ well-being, occupational health and safety, and training activities. Data were collected through a combination of on-site assessments and direct engagement with participating entities. A standardized data collection tool was employed to guarantee consistency and comparability across datasets, complemented by company reports and field observations gathered during site visits. Of the total sample, 73% (52 entities) provided the requested information. Environmental results indicated that in 2022, the consortium emitted 31,065 tons of CO₂ equivalent, with 82% of emissions originating from production processes, highlighting a significant opportunity to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. Waste generation was predominantly non-hazardous (97%). Of the total non-hazardous waste, 32% was recycled, while only about 1% was sent to landfill. The remaining share was directed toward other recovery options, including energy recovery, demonstrating positive circular economy practices within the consortium. In the social dimension, the Agenda has contributed to the creation of 13 new jobs, 10 of which were classified as highly qualified (bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD level). However, gender equality still requires improvement: men represented approximately 70% of the total workforce and held around 75% of leadership positions, on average, reflecting both national and European trends. The agenda’s results reflect the reality of structural gender inequality in both Portugal and Europe, where women’s presence in leadership positions remains below 40%, for example, at 30% in Portuguese management positions and 36% for managers across Europe. These findings suggest that, although the INOV.AM consortium performs comparably to the Portuguese industrial context, persistent structural barriers to gender equity remain. The consortium’s socio-environmental performance thus mirrors Portugal’s broader trajectory: both show gradual progress in sustainability dimensions, such as clean energy transition and gender inclusion, while still facing structural challenges in achieving full resource efficiency and social equity. Advancing this alignment requires integrated strategies that jointly promote technological innovation, social inclusion, and environmental responsibility, accelerating transformative progress toward the SDG in Portugal. The preliminary findings reveal both achievements and challenges. The Agenda shows a strong commitment to monitoring sustainability performance, supported by a harmonized framework of 22 socio-environmental indicators. Nevertheless, further improvements are needed in resource efficiency, waste management, and gender equity. Strengthening these areas will not only enhance alignment with national and European sustainability targets but also consolidate Portugal’s leadership in sustainable industrial innovation and the transition towards a low-carbon economy. Furthermore, the insights gained from this assessment will support the formulation of evidence-based industrial policies and inform future European research agendas aimed at fostering more inclusive and sustainable manufacturing systems.