By Katharina Kröger, Marketing Manager at SEH Technology
https://www.seh-technology.com/
Sustainability has become the buzzword of a generation, with the global collaborative charge to reduce carbon emissions to create a greener, zero-carbon and more environmentally friendly future standing at the forefront of an organisation’s priorities. As the term continues to gain mainstream prominence, it’s crucial to continually delegate time and resources to ensure that words are being translated into actions.
A 2022 survey conducted by Deloitte reinforces the societal surge to create a more sustainable planet, recording that 66% of surveyed candidates are working to increase their energy efficiency, with an additional 49% of respondents stating that they are developing new climate-friendly products or services, highlighting the importance placed on this global issue. This article will discuss the role of technology in driving environmental sustainability efforts for the better by exploring the benefits of circular economies, the use of evolving technology such as AI, and more, in the global effort to save the planet.
Digital technology and environmental sustainability
There is a strong global focus on minimising emissions, from the automotive and agriculture sectors to the technology and manufacturing industries. These sectors all have one thing in common: digital technology. Environmental sustainability and digital technology go hand-in-hand because, without new technologies, it is frequently more difficult for businesses to lessen their environmental impact and have a positive social impact. In order to fulfil evolving consumer demands and set themselves apart from other businesses, organisations must put the integration of innovative technology and sustainable practices at the forefront of their strategic thinking.
Today, the integration of digital expertise and sustainability is greatly aided by emerging technologies like AI, IoT and Big Data. According to PWC, AI technologies are predicted to reduce worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 4% in 2030, with estimations that using AI for environmental applications could contribute up to $5.2 trillion to the global economy in 2030, which is a 4.4% increase relative to business-as-usual.
AI technologies could be used to provide a myriad of benefits to the environment across the urban, agricultural, industrial and mobility contexts. This emphasises the chances for businesses to improve their knowledge and use of digital technologies to propel their sustainability strategy and provide commercial value. Companies are also enhancing their data gathering in order to strengthen organisational procedures and customer service, as well as to better understand the lifespan of their goods and services. Long-term efficiency improvements, innovation stimulation, and sustainability efforts can all benefit from this understanding.
Working towards a more sustainable future
There are several steps that businesses can take to become more environmentally friendly, one of which is to harness the power of the circular economy. The circular economy is a production and consumption model that emphasises sharing, renting, reusing, maintaining, repairing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible. The life cycle of items is prolonged in this way, reducing their impact on the environment.
The linear model is an economy that seeks to maximise profit, but as a result, it has had wide-ranging, adverse effects on the environment. The circular economy – the emergence of a more sustainable model – is dedicated to minimising waste and maximising reusability, with software upgrades to increase performance and repairs for existing devices.
In order to fully maximise the benefits of a circular economy, ensuring that the production of products is done through the use of high-quality machines is vital. This results in the creation of the highest possible quality products, while also making sure that the error rates remain low, preventing any potential waste of resources through wrongful production.
Through a fully documented supply chain, companies can identify the steps that need refining, to use power, resources and time efficiently and effectively. Businesses that ensure that they fully document and understand their supply chains are putting themselves in the best possible position to be more sustainable by having a more holistic view.
Organisations that utilise the advantages of a circular economy can also become more sustainable through the use of local supply chains. Local supply chains are a fantastic way to support the local economy, creating a vast, positive social impact with new opportunities for people, while also eliminating the additional carbon cost of transporting resources overseas, greatly reducing a business’s carbon footprint.
Companies that export their products from overseas create what is referred to as ‘Scope 3 emissions.’ Scope 3 emissions are comprised of all the emissions associated, not with the company itself, but that the organisation is indirectly responsible for, up and down its supply chain, accounting for more than 70% of a typical organisation’s total emissions, highlighting the sheer urgency of reducing its impact on the environment.
What’s the future of IT sustainability?
Environmental sustainability and digital technology go hand-in-hand because, without new technologies, it is frequently more difficult for businesses to lessen their environmental impact and have a positive social impact. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to measuring sustainability. Businesses vary in size, scope, needs and industry demands, meaning that detailing exactly what ESG looks like can be difficult. Moving forward, businesses must integrate sustainability into their core operations and develop a set of KPIs that the entire organisation can use to gauge long-term success.
Businesses that invest in local supply chains will be the most prepared for a sustainable future, significantly reducing their carbon emissions, streamlining their operational workflows and creating a large positive social impact. This rise in sustainability measures can be further reinforced through the use of a circular economy, a vast environmental improvement to its counterpart, the linear economy, paving the way to a greener and zero-carbon future.
