The climate change crisis has risen to new levels altogether. Repeated forest fires, the increase in air pollution making it difficult for people to breathe, and water and food shortages have skyrocketed, forcing people and governments to look beyond the age of industrialization and focus on taking a greener approach. As the UN urges countries to come together and fight a global crisis, many organizations and citizens of the world are also doing what they can to create a more sustainable world around them.
Sustainability is one of the biggest trends in general for the coming years. People all around the world are taking matters into their own hands and taking action to make this planet they call home a more habitable place for themselves and future generations.
Committing to sustainability has suddenly become the biggest and most reliable predictor of long-term business success. Far from jeopardizing the bottom line, the unstoppable momentum of the net zero bandwagon careering through every major global industry is proving to be an unexpected opportunity for those who’ve happily hopped aboard.
As customers, investors, staff, legislators and those all-important celebrity influencers gang up to demand carbon footprints be significantly downsized, companies not complying with their wishes won’t be companies for much longer.
But going green is no longer just about consolidating carbon; it’s about being a better corporate citizen, giving back to communities, using data in ethical ways, repairing ruined ecosystems and prioritizing the wellbeing of your employees. New trends in future-proofing through sustainability emerge almost every week, but here are the five sets to dominate in 2023.
Top Sustainability Trends of 2023
People, governments, and organizations have become more environmentally conscious, and it has given rise to several sustainability trends in 2023. Some of the biggest trends in sustainability that are forecasted for the coming year are listed below.
Digitalisation
Business sustainability reporting will be greatly improved by the advent of digitalization, which will make the process more streamlined, efficient, and user-friendly. Companies will transition from using Excel spreadsheets to using smart, specialized software as they use digital reporting solutions to improve their sustainability reporting processes.
By eliminating inefficiencies, businesses will have more time to concentrate on growing their core competencies rather than wasting it on report writing. To improve their sustainable practices, businesses will be able to more accurately assess their progress.
Rise of Renewable Energy Sources
Access to renewable energy has improved over the past few years, but nearly everyone we talked to predicted that by 2023, the trend would only accelerate. Renewable energy and cutting-edge technology can help us achieve this goal of long-term energy sustainability.
Homeowners can greatly lessen their negative effects on the environment and their utility bills by making the switch to renewable energy sources like heat pumps and solar panels. It's hardly shocking that more people are thinking about making the change now that the price of energy is causing uncertainty around the world.
Standard and low-carbon heating alternatives are currently separated only by price, but many experts believe that by 2023, the two will become more comparable, thus driving the urge to switch to sustainable solutions.
More Recycling
Nearly all of our contributors mentioned recycling as a major environmental topic to watch out for in the coming year. Although recycling is not a new concept and many families and businesses around the world currently engage in some sort of recycling, it is expected that increased climate action and education towards recycling will become part of sustainability initiatives in light of the worldwide rise in environmental awareness.
The packaging we use every day is unnecessary, and manufacturers and producers are going to do more to reduce it, recycle it, and get customers to do the same. The food industry and retail manufacturing will both experience this. One of the most important things countries can do for their environment is recycle. The good news is that the market and brands appear to be prioritizing different things, and this movement could accelerate in the coming years.
Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements
Sustainable mobility choices have advanced alongside this industry trend in most nations. Increased use of bicycles, low-carbon public transport, and the introduction of electric cars are just a few examples of the shifts that have taken place. There is no doubt that energy-efficient electric vehicles once thought to be the transportation of the future, are now widespread on roads and highways around the world, although some countries may be adopting them more swiftly than others.
People we talked to generally agreed that more environmentally friendly modes of transportation will play a significant role in people's daily lives in the coming year. In 2023, we may expect to see even more progress in this eco-trend related to transport, which is already an area that the vast majority of countries are working to better.
Eliminating Food Waste
Over the past decade, the issue of food waste has gained prominence on agendas around the world. Waste has far-reaching consequences, including degradation of soil and water supplies, emission of unpleasant odours and exposure to harmful substances, and the need for additional landfills.
As a result, it shouldn't come as a shock that experts in our field believe that curbing food waste will feature prominently in the sustainability plans of every nation. Composting was recognised as a major trend because it is something that can be done by both businesses and consumers.
Composting is being promoted for all the right reasons, as food waste is a major global issue, and composting is a relatively easy, ecological solution.
Reusing Materials and Buying Pre-Owned Goods
The trend of buying used items and reusing resources has been on the rise recently. Because it lowers prices for millions of customers while simultaneously significantly lowering the environmental impact of new product production, supply networks, and delivery. A major issue right now that needs to be addressed.
This sustainable future trend has the added bonus of being applicable to a wide range of products, from apparel and packaging to home furnishings and building materials.
Zero Waste in Hospitality
Hotels have been able to reduce expenses by permitting visitors to forego towel cleaning in the name of sustainability. They are now applying this logic to shampoo by replacing single-use shampoo containers with dispensers mounted to the wall. Small shampoo bottles are a high-waste product because the container is discarded if any of the shampoo is used and because smaller bottles require more plastic per unit of shampoo. A dispenser can be emptied and refilled at a reduced marginal cost and with less concern for maintaining a steady supply of small bottles.
There is a continuous tradeoff between usability, the cost of materials, and designs that increase usage and thus sales; however, switching to inverted ketchup bottles, giving customers the last drop of the product, is a great way to earn goodwill, as it reminds the customer that they got their money's worth.
More Eco-friendly Materials
We are aware that sustainable fashion tops our trend forecasts for 2023, but our research also revealed an increase in the use of sustainable materials. This includes substituting packaging materials, textile fibres, and building materials with those made from more sustainable natural resources. This can refer to either readily biodegradable or replaceable materials with minimal environmental impact.
Several of our contributors identified these changes as the future of sustainability. There are numerous examples of how scientists and manufacturers are experimenting with solutions to reduce or eliminate environmental impact.
Enhanced Brand Accountability and Transparency
Many of those with whom we spoke anticipated that brands and large corporations would face increasing pressure to prioritize their environmental responsibilities and be more transparent with consumers.
Brand loyalty may be put to the test as consumers demand more from businesses in terms of demonstrating their efforts and understanding how they address their environmental impact. If major brands cannot demonstrate that they are addressing climate change and committing to sustainable industry practices, consumers may seek alternatives.
Carbon Offsets
As doing good for the environment becomes an increasingly important social statement for consumers and businesses, the demand for carbon offsets rises. Carbon offsets are appealing because they enable businesses and consumers to address their negative environmental impacts with money rather than a change in behavior or business practices.
The purpose of offsets is to neutralize the impact of emissions-heavy activities such as flying, commuting, and online shopping. In theory, carbon offsets make environmental initiatives economically viable where they may not have been previously.
Greater Climate Friendly Technology
In a world where new technologies seem to emerge on a daily basis, it is not surprising that future climate change mitigation and sustainability support technologies will be even more advanced. Utilizing existing and new systems more frequently appears to provide opportunities to reduce our global and individual environmental impact.
We are already observing an increase in the use of smart thermostats and electric vehicles, but whereas in the past, these were viewed as a way to help people reduce their carbon footprint, the current financial climate and economic uncertainty indicate that they are more likely a way to save money.
Making E-commerce Delivery Environmentally Friendly
The rise in global e-commerce has led to an increase in porch pirates and parcel theft. While some consumers have resorted to purchasing doorbell cameras such as Ring or even cameras with "porch pirate insurance" such as Kangaroo, others have chosen to schedule deliveries for when they are at home after work. In this way, receiving deliveries only when you are home can partially replace porch pirate insurance or a doorbell camera.
The instant a product is delivered is the first and last opportunity for a company to make a physical impression on a customer in e-commerce. As more people become aware of the zero-waste movement, they begin to fret that online shopping may be more harmful to the environment than traditional store visits.
The rise in ESG investments
ESG investments are key components to building a sustainable future at large. They are large investments to fuel research, development and growth of alternative modes of energy and sustainability. The fight for a greener, cleaner future will only become a reality if there is a large amount of investment put towards making it happen. Large organizations may look at it as a way of offsetting their CSR requirements or they could be genuinely interested in the cause. Whatever the reason may be, ESG consulting and investments will increase in the foreseeable future.
More individuals working from home
Since the beginning of the pandemic, employees working from home have rapidly become more common in the majority of businesses. Even after the pandemic, businesses all over the world continue to adopt this manner of work because it offers so many advantages.
As more people labour from home, there is less road travel by car and public transport, resulting in a significant decrease in carbon emissions. In addition, as technology has enabled more people to communicate and store information remotely, office building energy consumption has decreased.
Organizations will take a greener approach.
Companies have been called out for greenwashing in different industries and are being held accountable for their responsibility towards building a greener future and reducing their carbon emissions. This step forces organizations to take a greener approach, which can also be done by ensuring they work in a greener environment. Over time, companies have started to look out for offices that are powered with solar energy, have a low emissions rate, and employ sustainable practices to function. This step creates a demand for the real estate market and pushes them also to become more green, pushing sustainability to become a necessity instead of an add-on requirement.
Increasing Demand for Plant-Based and 'Alternative' Foods
Recent research from the University of Oxford indicates that individuals can reduce their carbon footprint by more than fifty per cent by avoiding meat and dairy products. It is easy to see why more people are adopting a vegan diet in light of this astounding decrease. The majority of our contributors predicted that this sustainability trend would increase throughout 2023.
The benefits of adopting a plant-based diet extend beyond carbon reduction and well-being. There is also a significant impact on the planet to take into account. Meat production practices can deplete natural resources, contaminate land, and imperil other species. There is excellent news for individuals who dislike conventional plant-based foods. By selecting 'alternative' ingredients, you can still contribute to these efforts.
Increase in involvement from the governments
Governments from around the world have taken the initiative to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The Paris Agreement has been signed by more than 190 countries, and governments are taking strong measures to make this a reality. Countries like the USA, the UK and Germany have already made significant progress on this front. The UK government has claimed that it will become completely carbon-free in terms of energy consumption for electricity by 2035, and Germany wants to stop the production of fuel-powered cars by 2035 as well.
Developed countries also need to focus on helping developing countries that are still focusing on their industrialization and globalization to become more sustainable. The entire world needs to come together as one to make this planet a healthier place to live in.
Conclusion
Sustainability trends of 2023 are all focused on empowering people, communities and nations to achieve carbon neutrality and zero emissions and then progressing to creating an environment that thrives on climate positivity.
The best way is to push people to become more accountable, which will make the companies they buy from or work at more accountable, which will make the countries they live in accountable as well.
There is steady progress being made to achieve this outcome, and once more people realize the impact we are currently making with our wasteful habits, the rate at which sustainability, as a cause, is progressing will speed up too.
Building a Greener and Sustainable Future
Before 2023, accountability was seen as pleasant, but that's starting to change. The epidemic refocused attention on sustainability and clean energy. Sustainability, which was previously an overarching issue, is now a key focus for every company. This presents a unique chance for businesses to evaluate their current state and consider how they could reduce their carbon footprint in the near and far future.
There is an increasing effort by companies of all kinds to combat the effects of climate change. They no longer include it in the brand's mission statement, but it has become a unifying notion that drives them to carry out essential tasks.
Companies are developing brand-new, long-term plans. They are stepping up their efforts to lessen their environmental impact by using cutting-edge machinery. This allows them to protect their workers' interests while maintaining open communication. By 2023, brands that need to put sustainability first will have already lost the race.
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