Sustainable technology had to happen. In 2019, a report by Client Earth highlighted that 89% of global CO₂ emissions came from fossil fuels and industries. Fossil fuels are having one of the most prominent negative impacts on global warming and drastically speeding up climate change.
Something had to change, and the rise of sustainable technology has increased massively over the last five years, with 68% of large US companies now having dedicated budgets to investing in sustainability technology. That’s leading to predictions that the green technology and sustainability market will be worth $25.47B by the end of 2025.
The uptake of these technologies isn’t always simple, and some industries are facing disruption from sustainable tech as others lead the charge. Disruption isn’t always negative; it’s temporary, and the positive impact often outweighs the investment. Read on to find out more.
The Industries Facing Disruption From Sustainable Tech
Agriculture
Agriculture is responsible for 30% of the world’s energy consumption and 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. The changes happening to this industry might be disrupted, with many local farmers reporting they can’t keep up with the investments needed, but the global change is so beneficial for our planet.
The technology linked to sustainability in this sector includes:
- Precision agriculture and data-driven farming
- Regenerative farming
- Smart irrigation systems
Construction
Like agriculture, construction was having a detrimental negative impact on the environment. In the US, construction was responsible for 26% of global carbon emissions and, combined with manufacturing, over 50% of global greenhouse gas. Again, sustainable technology might be expensive to implement, but it is needed.
Sustainable technologies include:
- Energy-efficient building systems like smart HVAC systems
- Modular and prefabricated construction
- Greywater recycling system.
Leading the Change
Some industries were forced to lead the change because they were producing such massive amounts of energy waste and contributing so massively to climate change.
Textiles and On-Demand Printing
Textiles and on-demand printing are doing an incredible job at leading the charge for change. A DTG printer, a direct-to-garment printer, can now utilize printing methods and technology like NeoPigment inks, a waterless printing method that dramatically reduces water waste and the use of toxic, non-biodegradable inks.
The best sustainable technology for textiles and on-demand printing includes:
- Waterless inkjet printing
- Water-based pigment inks (used by DTG printing industry leader, Kornit Digital)
- Single-pass digital printing
Renewable Energy
Of course, we had to mention renewable energy. They’re, as the name would suggest, one of the industries leading the charge for sustainable technology. It’s estimated that 29% of electricity comes from renewable sources globally.
Some of the best renewable energy technologies include:
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology
- Wind power
- Hydropower
- Green hydrogen
Sustainable technology is the future for all industries. We predict that, in the next 10 years, there won’t be a business in the US, and perhaps globally, that won’t be investing in and implementing sustainable technology. The benefits for our planet are incredible, and the changes are making a difference. Let’s see what our planet looks like in the next 10 years with these changes.
