The concerns around the environmental impact of digitization have grown significantly as our lives increasingly revolve around digital technology. There is no doubt that the advancements in the tech industry have simplified our lives, but they do come with a cost.
According to the UN, the technology industry currently accounts for about 2% to 3% of global carbon emissions. And, the shocking fact is that these numbers, if not addressed, will continue to increase. Hence, tech companies should take a proactive approach to reduce the industry’s impact on the environment.
Investing in sustainable technologies is one of the sure-fire ways to reduce the environmental impact of digitization. In this article, we will explore various sustainable innovation technologies and practices that tech companies can adopt for long-term success.
10 Technologies That Can Create a Positive Impact
Here is a list of innovative technologies and best practices that tech companies are adopting to reduce the pressing environmental issues the world is facing today.
1. AI Automation
AI systems help tech industries to optimize their processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. AI-driven systems predict energy demand and optimize the use of renewable sources, potentially reducing energy waste by up to 10%. For example, Google’s DeepMind AI has helped reduce energy usage in its data centers by 40%. Similarly, AI can be utilized for predictive maintenance by spotting which machines need repairs beforehand thereby preventing unexpected breakdowns.
The adoption of AI and automation will ensure lower investment in infrastructure and energy consumption. This can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve resources for a sustainable future. In fact, 77% of companies that wish to adopt sustainable transformation are planning on leveraging AI and automation in their processes.
Chase Hughes, Founder of ProAI says that AI is also playing a crucial role in creating more energy-efficient algorithms and cloud computing resources for the software industry. With the help of AI, software companies can invest in sustainable software engineering practices to perform complex computational tasks, such as large-scale data processing, machine learning algorithms, and more using less power.
2. Sustainable Data Centers
Data centers all around the world are known for their high energy consumption. As these facilities are responsible for storing and processing vast amounts of data, they consume a lot of electricity, thereby contributing significantly to carbon emissions. Sustainable data centers are rapidly gaining popularity to reduce this environmental impact. For instance, Google’s data centers are utilizing AI-powered cooling systems to remove heat from servers and have successfully managed to reduce the energy required for cooling by 40%. Similarly, Meta’s data center in Sweden leverages the cold Nordic air to cool its servers rather than relying on energy-intensive air conditioning.
Besides energy efficiency improvements, sustainable data centers are investing in energy-efficient server hardware and storage devices that consume less power. Advanced processor technologies, modern computer system architecture, and more can contribute greatly to overall energy savings.
As the demand for data storage and processing continues to grow, we need to invest heavily in sustainable data centers by adopting energy-efficient technologies to lower the carbon footprint and promote environmental sustainability.
3. Green Construction and Energy-efficient Building Design
The construction industry is going green because of the adoption of sustainable materials and energy-efficient building designs. Green buildings consume 25% less energy as compared to traditional buildings and require 11% less water. This is because of innovations like smart glass that becomes darker in the presence of sunlight and the use of advanced insulation materials that help slash energy usage.
In addition, these energy-efficient building structures also involve solar panel installations, small-scale wind turbines, rainwater harvesting, vertical gardens, and so on to reduce their environmental footprint even more. The goal is to promote reduced energy consumption and improve environmental quality.
4. Renewable Energy Technologies
Transitioning to renewable energy technologies is another approach to building a sustainable environment. For example, solar energy can directly convert sunlight into electricity using semiconductor materials. Businesses can assess their existing energy usage and identify opportunities for integrating renewable energy technologies.
Besides, the government offers incentives and subsidies to businesses investing in renewable energy investments. Taking advantage of these schemes can not only enhance the finances of a business but also contribute to a cleaner environment.
Alex Taylor, Head of Marketing at CrownTV says that as renewable sources can be replenished naturally, they have considerably lower impact on the environment. Communicating the benefits of renewable energy technologies and the company’s commitment to sustainability is the first step towards building a greener future.
5. Electric Vehicles and Public Transportation
The introduction of electric vehicles and advancements in public transportation have significantly reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. According to IEA, the electric car sales in 2023 were 3.5 million higher than that in 2022, which is a 35% year-on-year increase. Apart from private vehicles, public transportation is also becoming more sustainable. High-speed trains, metros, trams, and electric buses are the best eco-friendly alternatives and reduce emissions significantly. Some auto transport companies, and even giants like FedEx, have been moving towards electronic vehicles for the past few years.
Martin Seeley, CEO of Mattress Next Day says that as EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, there is a reduction in the production of pollutants like nitrogen oxides. This directly contributes to improving air quality and public health. Lately, electric vans, electric trucks, and electric cargo bikes have been used for urban and regional deliveries.
6. Recycling and e-Waste Management
The recycling of e-waste and its right management are essential for reducing environmental pollution and conserving resources. While recycling technology continues to advance, there are drastic improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of recycling processes. This ensures that hazardous elements from electronic devices are processed safely thus preventing any sort of environmental contamination. Today, there are several innovative recycling programs and policies to encourage recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
7. Sustainable Manufacturing
Sustainable manufacturing is another approach that is designed to decrease resource use, reduce waste, and lower carbon emissions throughout the production process. This includes utilizing energy-efficient machinery and lighting systems to monitor and optimize energy use. Further, it involves transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar energy, wind energy, and more to power production facilities. This is further strengthened by innovations in product design that ensure the manufactured goods can be easily disassembled for repairs or recycling.
Sumeer Kaur, Founder of Lashkaraa says that using eco-friendly and biodegradable materials plays an important role in sustainable manufacturing. As biodegradable materials break down and decompose relatively quickly, they have a lower environmental impact. For instance, cotton is one of the most widely used materials in the textile industry. Further, cotton is generally grown without the help of any synthetic chemicals thereby making it a more environmentally friendly option. Our brand, Lashkaraa focuses on investing in this versatile cotton and eco-friendly packaging to reduce our environmental footprint.
8. Paper-Free Practices
Businesses today are shifting towards paper-free practices and investing in digital solutions to lower paper consumption. The use of electronic documents, cloud storage, and more are rapidly replacing paper, leading to decreased deforestation and paper waste.
Did you know that an average office worker uses about 10000 sheets of paper annually? This number can be drastically reduced by utilizing digital alternatives.
Alison Lancaster, CEO of Pressat believes that paper-free practices not only help in saving trees but also reduce the amount of water and energy required for paper production. By investing in digital documentation, we can reduce the need for physical paper and contribute to overall environmental conservation.
9. Organic Farming
Did you know that conventional farms produce 40% more greenhouse gases and utilize about 45% more energy? Organic farming facilitates sustainable agriculture because it prohibits the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, thus improving soil fertility and reducing pollution. Organic farming also improves the water-holding capacity of the soil which makes it more adaptive to climate change impacts. It enhances environmental sustainability in the long run by promoting biodiversity and contributing to building healthy ecosystems.
This growth of environmentally friendly farming approaches is driven by an increasing number of customers opting for organic products. In fact, the global sales of organic food amounted to $134.76 billion in 2022.
10. Sustainable Supply Chain
Investing in a sustainable supply chain and logistics can help reduce the environmental impact the movement and management of goods can bring about. Using sustainable supply chain practices, companies can decrease emissions and enhance the overall efficiency of supply chain processes.
For instance, green logistics involves using strategies like route optimization, energy-efficient vehicles, load planning, and so on to optimize the transportation process. Similarly, energy-efficient warehousing focuses on investing in energy-saving technologies to reduce energy consumption in storage facilities. Utilizing high-efficiency HVAC systems, advanced insulation, LED lighting, and similar technologies to power warehouse operations can lead to solid environmental benefits and cost savings.
The environmental impact of supply chain operations can be improved by investing in sustainable sourcing. This includes working with suppliers that utilize renewable resources and have a commitment to reducing their environmental impact. Similarly, using recyclable and eco-friendly packing materials will minimize packaging waste and lower environmental footprint.
Final Thoughts
Sustainable technology does not offer just innovation but also has the potential to create a positive environmental impact. By utilizing the innovative technologies and best practices mentioned in this post, we can build practical solutions to the current environmental challenges and thus, an economically viable world and a healthier planet.
About the Author
Kruti Shah is a content writer and marketer at The Marketing Drama. She loves to write about insights on current trends in Technology, Business and Marketing. In her free time, she loves baking and watching Netflix. You can connect with her on Linkedin.
Disclaimer: The author is completely responsible for the content of this article. The opinions expressed are their own and do not represent IEEE’s position nor that of the Computer Society nor its Leadership.
