The energy intensive industries of cement, ceramics, chemicals, glass, metals and paper are major global emitters of CO2. Termed foundation industries in the UK, these are candidates for significant energy and in turn CO2 reduction. Given their size, they have great potential to impact on sustainable development, particularly on local business and civic communities. While the sustainable development literature is advanced for industry in general, the progress in these high capital-intensive manufacturers is poorly addressed. Research and development is needed to more sustainably exploit the resources that these industries control that include energy, materials, buildings, land and skills. System-level solutions through engagement and collaboration with local stakeholders could provide mutual benefits and enable faster progress towards net zero. This paper reports on empirical work to understand the potential for working beyond traditional business boundaries to engage and collaborate with wider stakeholders in innovative system-level solutions. The paper discusses how sharing practices, informed by system-level sustainability metrics, holds potential for faster and more significant advances towards sustainability and net zero.