How businesses are using tech to achieve sustainability
We’re living in a time of growing awareness around the impact of our behaviour on the environment.
One of the major contributors to the greenhouse effect is business. Back in 2021, UK businesses emitted 14% of the total 414.1 million tonnes/ CO2e created within a year. With a figure like this in mind, it’s easy to see how much impact companies of varying sizes have.
Businesses are further being motivated to take action as a result of the UK government’s target to be carbon net zero by 2050. This target has already seen a ban on petrol and diesel cars, along with the phasing out of traditional gas boilers.
Now, businesses are actively seeking to become more sustainable. While there are traditional methods that can be used, companies are also embracing tech to streamline the process. Here’s how.
Why focus on sustainability?
As well as the government’s move towards reaching carbon net zero, businesses are responsible for the environment they operate in. Business owners are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of introducing sustainable practices.
These benefits are both good for preserving our planet’s resources and for brand reputation. By embracing sustainability, companies can demonstrate their commitment to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the impact of climate change. This can attract clients and stakeholders, along with new talent to the team. Green initiatives are attractive.
The ways businesses are becoming sustainable
Energy management
Effective energy management lies at the core of sustainable business practices. Technology enables businesses to optimise their energy consumption through smart devices and the use of the Internet of Things (IoT).
For instance, managing the temperature within a working environment can ensure that there’s not too much energy consumption. Using a smart thermostat can help to keep things comfortable and can also monitor energy use.
Smart manufacturing
Adopting smart manufacturing processes is a key strategy for achieving sustainability. By integrating IoT devices and, along with sensors, innovative software, such as circuit design software and data analytics, businesses can streamline production, minimise waste, and optimise the use of resources.
Real-time monitoring allows for the identification of inefficiencies, leading to improved energy consumption, reduced emissions, and enhanced productivity.
Energy efficiency
Energy-efficient technologies play a vital role in sustainable business operations. From lighting to smart HVAC systems, businesses can significantly reduce their energy consumption and associated costs. Leveraging automation and machine learning algorithms, these systems can optimise energy usage, leading to energy savings.
Waste management
Efficient waste management is crucial for minimising the environmental impact of businesses. Technology-driven solutions provide innovative approaches to waste reduction and recycling.
Advanced recycling systems, for example, are increasingly becoming part of the everyday process in business operations. These systems use robotics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to sort and process recyclable materials efficiently. By increasing recycling rates and reducing waste sent to landfill, companies can make significant environmental gains.
Digitisation
The digitisation of business processes offers the potential for sustainability initiatives.
Going paperless and swapping to digital documents, for example, means businesses can make substantial resource savings and decrease carbon emissions. Cloud-based storage and collaboration platforms further boost efficiency.
These also promote remote work, reducing the need for physical office spaces and associated energy consumption. As we’ve seen in recent years, this office-free way of working has become typical for many organisations.
Tech is evolving all the time and, as we move forward, we’re likely to see even more innovations that will help to make businesses more sustainable in the future.