Working toward sustainable technology in 2025 can happen in several ways. One sustainable technology innovation area is the Internet of Things (IoT). This area of innovation can help facilitate the efficient use of energy. Another is the creation of ways to digitize business documents. Keeping digital records can reduce paper waste in office environments.
Companies can figure out ways to organize their work practices to facilitate sustainability. They can choose to purchase products with solid energy efficiency reputations. They can also construct work schedules that promote sustainability. Individuals can also pay attention to sustainability. They can use power strips designed not to supply power to devices in standby mode. Individuals can also shut off computers when they are not in use.
Innovations in Sustainable Technology
The Internet of Things (IoT) is one area of technology that can help with sustainability. According to the Green Business Benchmark (GBB) website, IoT “is an interconnected web of devices.” IoT technology can be useful for enhancing energy efficiency to improve environmental impact. Interconnected devices that control temperature within a workspace can sense temperature changes. These devices can then adjust room temperatures based on data input. GBB explains: “This means less energy is wasted on overheating or cooling unoccupied rooms.”
Keeping documents in digital formats can also be a sustainable use of technology for businesses. According to GBB, “removing paper from business operations has the potential to reduce office waste.” The percentage of reduction of waste in office settings could be as high as 70%. Optical character recognition is one technological innovation that can help with digitizing. GBB states that this technology “can scan physical pages and turn them into digital documents.” Information in these scanned documents can then be accessed when necessary.
Implementing Sustainable Technology
Companies can find ways to reorganize their day-to-day practices to use technology more sustainably. Taking care to make sustainable product purchases could be one way. Splunk suggests choosing “equipment… rated for… energy efficiency.” Another way could be finding ways to limit the use of computers in the workplace. Splunk recommends “a shorter work week or condensed working hours.”
Individuals within companies can also make decisions about using technology sustainably. Sustainable power strips are available, for instance. These power strips can be used to promote efficient energy use. This is done, according to Splunk, through “turning off power to… products… in standby mode.” These products can include monitors and printers. Also, individuals can shut off their computers when not using them. This can conserve the energy resources that computers use when they are turned on.
Sustainable Technology and ESG
One component of technology sustainability is ESG. ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. According to IBM, the environmental component concerns being “a steward of the environment.” For example, a company could take steps to address climate change and pollution. Paying attention to carbon emissions can be one possible course of action.
IBM states the social aspect of ESG is “the impact the organization has on people.” Communities and cultures can be affected by a company’s approach. Supply chains within an organization’s operational procedure can have social impacts. Protecting human rights can be an area of focus. According to IBM, governance concerns “how the organization is directed.” Corporate policy on executive compensation is one aspect. IBM explains that “board management practices and shareholder rights” also fall under governance.
PwC states that companies are often supported in taking “actions on sustainability and ESG.” These actions may meet with enthusiasm from investors and stakeholders. Organizational transparency can be a way to generate this enthusiasm. Developing corporate strategies for sustainability and achieving set organizational aims can also facilitate support. According to PwC, these corporate steps involve “quality ESG data in a complex environment.” Innovative sustainability technologies such as IoT can help deliver useful ESG information to interested parties.
