As the world grapples with the escalating consequences of climate change and environmental degradation, businesses and organisations across all sectors must step up and spearhead the transition towards a greener future. This article delves into strategies for niche companies to go greener and be innovative, including embracing eco-design principles, cultivating sustainable supply chains, and fostering collaborative innovation. 

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The call for more sustainable policies across global industries remains prominent. In April, the UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell urged countries to put the planet’s future high on the agenda ahead of crucial elections this year. It is only through sustained efforts to go greener that any business, whether niche or global, can help to influence long-term behavioural and policy changes. 

Businesses that are well-positioned in their niche industry already recognise the shift towards adopting sustainable practices, be it in agriculture, retail, or real estate. However, if you are a start-up operating in a specialised market, mapping out sustainable policies that are viable and cost-effective – while beneficial in the long-term – still presents distinct challenges. 

Drive Eco-Friendly Policies with Economic Change

The energy sector has long been a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), largely due to the burning of fossil fuels. Coal, oil and gas are by far the largest contributor to climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In fact, global fossil fuel consumption has more than doubled in recent decades, exacerbating the problem of rising GHG levels and global warming.

However, the ongoing crisis also presents an opportunity for the energy industry to lead the way towards a sustainable future through innovative renewable energy solutions. The necessity to reduce this reliance on fossil fuels has urged industries to focus on innovation and research and development (R&D) alongside the development and adoption of renewable technologies. For niche businesses, too, focussing on renewable energy R&D presents opportunities to sharpen their sustainable policies.

This sustainability drive translates into more businesses embracing eco-design, cultivating sustainable supply chains, fostering collaborative innovation, and engaging more with their local communities. With such collective efforts, the energy industry at large can support widespread initiatives to lower their environmental impact, demonstrating the power of sustainable innovation to shape a greener, more resilient future.

Boost Sustainability by Embracing Eco-Design 

With 71% of employees preferring environmentally-sustainable companies, businesses are under pressure to adopt greener policies to future-proof recruitment and meet government initiatives. This holds true even in a niche market, so adopting eco-design principles and embracing the circular economy can go a long way. Key practices include:

• Evaluating the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and manufacturing to use and end-of-life disposal or recycling.
• Choosing materials that are renewable, recyclable, or have a lower environmental impact, such as bamboo, recycled plastics, or bio-based materials.
• Designing products and processes that minimise energy consumption during manufacturing, transportation, and use, often through optimised designs or the incorporation of energy-efficient components.
• Reducing waste generated during production processes and designing products that generate less waste during their use and disposal.
• Creating products that are built to last, can be easily repaired, and have a longer lifespan.
• Designing products with modular components that can be easily disassembled, allowing for easier repair, upgrades, and recycling.
• Reducing the amount of physical materials used in products or services, often through digitization or servitization models, for example by offering a service instead of selling a physical product
• Designing sustainable packaging solutions that minimise environmental impact by using recycled, recyclable, or compostable materials, and reducing excess packaging.

Implement the Principles of a Circular Economy

Implementing circular economy principles in the design of products and systems allows for the recovery and reuse of materials, components, or products at the end of their useful life. However, while eco-conscious design is all well and good in established businesses and larger companies that can afford to implement change, there may be certain niche businesses where alternative sustainable measures work better.

Niche businesses can excel with tailored sustainable measures by leveraging their deep market knowledge and engaging closely with relevant suppliers in local communities, environmental groups, and industry experts according to their specific sectors. Arguably, niche industries have far more scope for sustainable innovation and growth than their larger counterparts. 

This is the case when developing new materials, optimising production methods, or exploring alternative business models. Additionally, beyond just the niche environment, more companies have embraced the principles of the circular economy in the last decade.

Cultivate Sustainable Supply Chains

One of the main measures and challenges of assessing business sustainability revolves around supply chains. In fact, research shows that climate change threatens even the most carefully-considered sales and operations planning (S&OP) approach. For example, organic food producers can collaborate with farmers and advocates to pioneer regenerative agriculture and innovative packaging while green building firms can design energy-efficient structures with locally-sourced materials. Through these targeted partnerships, niche businesses can develop sustainable solutions finely tuned to the unique needs and challenges of their market niches. 

A company’s sustainability performance is intrinsically connected to its supply chain. This connection can be its biggest setback. Sustainability in a niche market, therefore, extends beyond a company’s own operations to encompass the entire supply chain. By cultivating sustainable relationships with local suppliers and prioritising responsible sourcing practices, businesses can drive positive change across their industry. This may involve partnering with local suppliers to reduce transportation emissions, sourcing certified sustainable materials, or collaborating with suppliers to implement eco-friendly practices.

Furthermore, niche companies can leverage their specialised expertise and industry knowledge to identify and address specific sustainability challenges within their supply chains, developing solutions that address the unique needs of their market.

Foster Collaborative Ideas

Innovation thrives in collaborative environments, and niche markets provide fertile ground for cross-pollination of ideas and problem-solving. By fostering partnerships with like-minded organisations, academic institutions, or industry associations, niche companies can tap into a wealth of knowledge, resources, and perspectives. Net zero goals are more achievable with the collaboration of business owners, policy makers, and consumers. 

These collaborations can take various forms, such as joint research projects, knowledge-sharing initiatives, or the development of industry-wide sustainability standards and best practices. There are a number of renewables and low carbon technologies and understanding the right renewables for your business size is important. Similarly, look into the cost and long-term profitability benefits of implementing sustainable manufacturing practices. By pooling expertise and resources, niche market players can accelerate the pace of innovation and drive transformative changes within their specific sectors.

Promote Future Sustainable Innovation

To encourage and support businesses in their pursuit of sustainable innovation, governments offer incentives and funding programmes designed to offset the costs associated with R&D. There are further associated tax relief schemes, which allow companies to claim tax credits for their qualifying R&D activities.

If your business is engaged in the development of innovative products, processes, or services related to sustainability or renewable energy, you may be eligible for R&D tax relief. This can provide a valuable source of funding to fuel your research efforts and drive further innovation in the field of sustainable technologies. By investing in R&D, companies can uncover new materials, processes, and technologies that reduce their environmental footprint while improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Ultimately, businesses that prioritise sustainable and innovative environmental policies are contributing to a greener future and positioning themselves for long-term success. While change and influence might be a multi-country effort, actively advocating for sustainable practices and supporting the development of renewable energy technologies can inspire others to follow suit and drive meaningful change. 

Planning sustainable policies is not only an imperative but also a strategic business decision. Championing sustainable initiatives leads to companies that can inspire other businesses, foster consumer loyalty, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility, creating a more sustainable future for all.  

The post Planning Sustainable Policies for a Niche Business appeared first on Earth.Org.

With climate change, sustainability and waste reduction on the agenda of many businesses and corporate leaders, it is important for them to showcase their green credentials publicly and openly. In doing so, these businesses can offer insights into lesser known recycling opportunities in their internal operations. To celebrate Global Recycling Day 2024, which every year falls on March 14, Earth.Org republishes its guide for businesses to introduce recycling across their operations.

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Hunt for Any Missed Opportunities

The theme for this year’s Recycling Week initiative, celebrated in the UK between October 16-22, 2023, was “The Big Recycling Hunt.” The initiative was a call on individuals and businesses to consider “missed captures”, in other words, items or materials that can be recycled but are not commonly identified as being recyclable. 

With a special toolkit available and educational resources for teachers and communities to download and share to get local children involved, a part of this year’s campaign was to encourage businesses to share this message and get involved by highlighting the efforts they make throughout the year. 

For CEOs and business leaders, any focused recycling campaign is a unique opportunity for them to prove to their customers, stakeholders, employees, and prospective clients the efforts they are making throughout the year to recycle materials. An ongoing initiative that is communicated between staff and shared online showcases their commitment and dedication to recycling as well as all the practical ways their business contributes to the wider recycling cause. 

Rather than being a business or CEO that falls short, today’s companies should keep identifying and using materials in their manufacturing lines or any operational areas of the business that can be recycled. While some leading companies are doing well at reducing waste and recycling, other businesses need to dig deeper into their internal and external operations to look for missed opportunities and improve their sustainability.

Businesses Should Be Held Accountable 

By shifting away from a linear approach where materials are thoughtlessly discarded, companies can step up and put greater efforts into adopting a circular model. A circular economy aims to eliminate waste by promoting the continual use of resources through strategies like recycling, reusing, repairing and remanufacturing products and materials. It is a regenerative system that minimises depletion of natural resources by using renewable energy and materials. The circular model is adopted by businesses keen to embed their commitment to sustainability and ESG values in a responsible and viable economic structure.

Strategies such as rethinking product design, enabling repair and reuse, and exploring ways to utilise by-products can help make this transformation. By-products are materials or waste produced during manufacturing or production processes as secondary outputs, in addition to the primary product. Common by-products across many industries include materials, such as:

• Scrap metal
• Wood shavings
• Food waste
• Plastic, or
• Paper packaging. 

In many cases, these by-products can be identified, recovered and reused or recycled back into production processes or repurposed for other uses rather than being disposed of. For example, sawdust from woodworking can be used for fuel, composting or as a raw material for other products. Likewise, the remnants of ground coffee can be recycled as compost. 

Utilising by-products also promotes a circular economy by reducing waste and the need for additional raw materials. With proper systems and technology for separation and collection, many by-products can be diverted from landfills and their economic value realised through recycling markets or creative reuse. 

To show support and commit to a recycling agenda, businesses worldwide can incorporate effective by-product repurposing initiatives in addition to recycling policies to transition to a more circular operational approach. Additional national campaigns, like planting trees to mark 2023’ National Tree Week (from 25th November to 3rd December) can be pivotal in how businesses set themselves apart from other companies.

You might also like: Is Carbon Offset a Form of Greenwashing?

Why Should Businesses Care About Recycling?

There are many compelling reasons for companies to prioritise recycling:

• Cost savings: Proper recycling reduces waste collection and disposal costs. Reusing materials also lowers operating expenses.

• Environmental impact: Recycling reduces landfill waste, curbs carbon emissions, and helps preserve natural resources. This aligns with many other eco-friendly business practices.

• Compliance: Stricter regulations require more recycling and waste reporting. Getting policies in place now ensures more compliance across the board.

• Employee engagement: Staff appreciate working for environmentally aware employers. Successful recycling schemes rely on workforce participation.

• Reputation: Customers and stakeholders ‌increasingly favour brands they use that demonstrate ethical, eco-friendly practices like recycling.

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR): CSR is a key consideration for many UK brands these days. By demonstrating active participation in ecological projects and emission reduction initiatives, consumers will take more notice.

The last two points highlighted above really illustrate how Recycle Week is a crucial time to drill down on how you, as a brand, are making an active difference in the fight against climate change. Not only can you promote your recycling efforts but you can also showcase other environmental projects and initiatives you have in the pipeline. 

Furthermore, there is reason to believe that, by promoting your recycling efforts through evergreen content, you can earn your business much-needed online visibility, something which is hard to turn your nose up at in this competitive climate. In other words, keep telling your customers and stakeholders what you are doing that is making a positive environmental impact, as Justin Aldridge, Technical Director at SEO Agency Artemis Marketing explained to earth.org, “Companies recognising their role in combating climate change through recycling and other CSR efforts will gain a real competitive edge. From our experience, many of our clients are making the switch to more eco-friendly products, solutions and practices. Promoting sustainability initiatives online can also attract the attention of environmentally-minded prospects who come across this authoritative content during web searches.”

How Can Businesses Improve Recycling?

Recycling policies must be robust and organisation-wide to be truly effective. That can manifest in several different ways for businesses across sectors and regions, but as a loose, top-level guide, here are some top tips to improve your recycling efforts.

Companies can be looking for ways to boost their sustainability efforts and reduce waste. Here are some best practices businesses should consider making recycling a priority at the executive level. When company executives actively champion recycling initiatives, they can inspire other people in the company to follow suit. You can look at appointing a Chief Sustainability Officer or have the CEO directly spearhead programmes to underscore the importance of this issue.

Likewise, look at officially analysing your current waste streams and establish this as a key ongoing task. Appointing a member of staff and creating a senior role tasked with conducting a professional waste audit that monitors current rubbish levels, recycling and compost is a great idea, if finances permit. This will uncover any problem areas or gaps where more recycling could be implemented. Track the full lifecycle of materials from sourcing to disposal to pinpoint improvement opportunities.

In other ways, businesses can implement further changes, including:

• Provide training and resources: Educating staff is crucial for maximising recycling participation while minimising contamination from improper materials. Create clear signage and labels indicating what can/cannot be recycled. Ensure recycling bins are plentiful and located conveniently throughout facilities. Appoint employee recycling champions to promote protocols and serve as resources for questions.
• Monitor and report progress: Gather and track detailed data on recycling rates, participation levels, and contamination incidents. Share progress reports internally to highlight wins and identify areas needing improvement. Metrics and reporting provide accountability and visibility.
• Collaborate with suppliers: Work alongside vendors and suppliers to reduce packaging waste. Encourage take-back programs for recyclable packaging materials like pallets and shipping containers. Renegotiate contracts to include sustainability criteria.
• Engage employees: Boost participation by allowing employees to share feedback and suggestions. Incentivise success with rewards programmes recognising top contributors. Create competitions between departments or individuals for most materials recycled. Promote achievements through company communications.
• Lead By example: Implement initiatives that visibly demonstrate the company’s commitment to sustainability. For example, eliminate single-use plastics from cafeterias and meeting rooms. Showcase pilot projects and case studies for stakeholders to emulate. Use your influence to drive wider industry adoption of best recycling practices.

You might also like: What Is E-Waste Recycling and How Is it Done?

Recycling Ideas for Businesses

Ready to plan your company’s recycling push? Here are some great initiatives to consider:

• Provide boxes for staff to clear old paperwork for secure shredding and recycling.
• Run a ‘bring your own’ week by encouraging reusable cups, bottles, and containers instead of single-use disposables.
• Organise waste audits to assess contamination and identify target areas.
• Invite Continuing Professional Development (CPD) experts to present the latest advice on recycling regulations and best practices.
• Track and share monthly recycling statistics to maintain momentum.
• Organise competitions – challenge departments to increase recycling rates with rewards for winning teams.
• Share success stories – use newsletters, blogs and social media to broadcast recycling achievements.

Every business, large or small, can take meaningful steps to boost recycling. This Recycle Week, why not put your company’s waste under the microscope and launch new initiatives to reduce and reuse more? Our planet will thank you for it. 

This article was originally published on November 3, 2023.

You might also like: Your Guide to Recycling Plastics

The post Global Recycling Day 2024: How To Introduce Recycling Into Your Business appeared first on Earth.Org.

Melting glaciers, rising seas, raging wildfires, displaced communities – the impacts of climate change are overwhelming. Thankfully, powerful images have the potential to spur action and incite positive change. With Earth Hour 2024 approaching, now is a great time to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change with some evocative imagery. 

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How can we truly grasp the magnitude of the world struggling against climate change? While information abounds in newspapers, magazines, scientific journals and social media, it is often the images captured by individuals facing the realities of the climate crisis that best depict the extent of devastation endured by communities, wildlife, and the environment. 

Images offer compelling proof that climate change is a tangible reality unfolding before us. By visually portraying the challenges through storytelling, photography emerges as a vital instrument in combating the perilous effects of global warming. But it also has the power to shine a light on solutions, whether it is by capturing energy conservation efforts for Earth Hour or by highlighting collective movements that inspire activism.

The Value of Climate Change Photography

Photography plays a vital role in representing the complex realities of climate change. Visuals have the unique power to engage viewers on an emotional level, something that abstract data and figures often cannot do. Visuals make climate change visible in more compelling and accessible ways and serve as an important form of truth-telling and documentation of shifting landscapes, displaced communities, and disappearing wildlife across the globe.

Photography provides historical documentation of how places are transforming under climate change and creates a visual record for posterity. For instance, photos are a great way to showcase the year-by-year retreat of a glacier or the slow encroachment of rising seas on a low-lying village. Professional wildlife images of endangered animals deliver a powerful message on the damage that changing landscapes can have on rare species in remote settings. Most importantly, this visual documentation also helps counter claims by climate change deniers by providing indisputable visual evidence of change occurring in real locations.

Climate change photography plays a key role in storytelling, too. Photographs put human narratives at the centre, capturing emotional moments of loss, fear, hope, and resistance. Storytelling through images builds public engagement, compassion, and concern for people and animals at the frontlines of climate disruption. Images that reveal the costs of climate change can motivate audiences to take action. For example, who can forget the stark reality of starving polar bears struggling to survive as a result of warming ice caps or not be moved by images of destruction brought about by extreme weather events?

Capturing Shifting Landscapes

Climate change is rapidly transforming ecosystems and geographies around the world, from mountain glaciers to arctic ice sheets to tropical rainforests. 

In Iceland, photos of the receding Breiðamerkurjökull glacier starkly illustrate how much ice has been lost over the past decade. Where mighty blue ice walls once stood tall, now only the glacial lagoon remains, filled with broken icebergs. Similarly, in Antarctica, sweeping drone photography shows the edges of massive ice shelves splintering and shearing off as warming ocean waters erode them from below.

NASA satellite images reveal how Africa’s Lake Chad, once a mighty expanse, has dried to a sliver, shrinking by about 90% in only 50 years. Before-and-after photos of Lake Mead in the United States document so-called “bathtub rings” on canyon walls, showing decreased water levels. Other images of Lake Mead capture hordes of wildlife desperate for water as their habitats dry up.

From parched riverbeds to starved animals, these photos bring forth evidence of disrupted ecosystems that might otherwise go unnoticed by the general public, providing visual proof that a warming climate is transforming the face of the planet.

More on the topic: The Causes And Effects of Lake Mead and Colorado River Basin Water Shortage, Explained 

Devastation Across Vulnerable Communities

The effects of a changing climate are not just reshaping natural landscapes but also shattering vulnerable communities. Photography bears witness to climate change displacing people, flooding homes, and upending livelihoods. Images of cities inundated after hurricanes and cyclones, from Houston to Mozambique, are a testament to the gravity of the crisis that is unfolding right before our eyes.

Some photos document people’s desperate attempts to rebuild a life after floods washed away all they had, while others capture families inspecting their fire-ravaged homes in the aftermath of mega-fires, with wide shots revealing block after block of burned-out neighbourhoods. Climate impacts are also slowly displacing populations, but photography chronicles the migration both within and across national borders, as millions are estimated to be fleeing drought, desertification, and shoreline loss.

You might also like: In Pictures: The Devastating Impacts of Wildfires in Turkey

These images connect us to the human story, the cultural loss, and the economic hardship inflicted by a rapidly changing climate. Shots of these communities alter the narrative of climate change from a distant, future problem to one we must address now.

Inspiring Activism

While photographing the impacts of climate change is crucial, it can also help highlight the solutions underway and inspire broader activism, from renewable energy development to regenerative agriculture practices that help sequester carbon in the soil through cover cropping, composting, and reduced tilling.

Likewise, photography can be a powerful tool to document protests demanding action from governments and corporations to address the climate crisis. Images of massive crowds marching on the streets convey the rising public pressure and document creative activist tactics, from rallies to artwork and installation protests. On an individual level, photography can inspire sustainable consumer choices by depicting the beauty of walking and cycling or growing produce in your garden.

While showcasing the devastating impact of climate change is important, it is equally crucial to give space to the innovative efforts, ways, and technologies societies around the world are developing to counteract the crisis.

In the same way that vivid filmmaking and social media are powerful tools for portraying the impact of climate change to a mass audience, photography has a massive part to play, too. Inspiring images make it clear that we can and must address the climate crisis together, however small an action may be.

You might also like: How Youth Climate Action Is Shaping a More Sustainable Future

The post Capturing Climate Change: How Photography Can Tell the Story of a Warming World appeared first on Earth.Org.

This article examines the potential of AI to aid energy conservation, along with key considerations around its responsible and secure application.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly and is being implemented across countless industries worldwide. This game-changing technology is revolutionising how businesses operate and collect data, which, for the energy industry in particular, is of paramount importance.

As concerns grow over climate change and the need for improved energy efficiency, many are exploring how AI could benefit environmental conservation efforts. As organisations and governments worldwide try to find intuitive and cost-effective ways to use less energy collectively, technology is integral to their success in this endeavour, particularly as modern consumer habits rely heavily on mobile devices and interconnected systems. 

However, for all smart home hubs, thermostats and LED lights that make the rounds, much more still needs to be done to ensure that global net zero targets do not prove too ambitious or out of reach. This is where heavy investment in AI can come in handy, as the technology itself is inherently designed to improve productivity and accuracy while alleviating humans from time-consuming, laborious and administrative tasks. As far as energy efficiency efforts go, how can AI be the valuable asset we need it to be?

You might also like: 7 Data-Based & Artificial Intelligence Projects To Help Fight Climate Change

7 Ways AI Can Support Energy Conservation

There are various ways that AI technology and smart capabilities can be utilised to promote more sustainable energy usage across the board. 

1. Optimising Energy Systems

Smart grids and connected devices enabled by AI allow energy systems to dynamically optimise electricity distribution. Machine learning algorithms can forecast energy demands and adapt output accordingly, avoiding waste. AI can also detect anomalies and inefficiencies in systems and autonomously alert users to perform preventative maintenance. 

2. Streamlining Industrial Processes

In manufacturing and logistics, AI holds huge potential to minimise energy usage. Intelligent robotics can automate tasks, while machine vision can perform quality control and identify defects early. This eliminates unnecessary manual labour and cuts down on wasted materials and emissions. While automation requires human supervision in order to be effective in its current incarnation, this can drastically speed up operations and make them more efficient.

3. Intelligent Building Management

AI-powered building management systems track occupancy, weather, usage patterns and more to efficiently regulate lighting, heating, and cooling in commercial buildings. Motion sensors and predictive capabilities conserve electricity when spaces are unoccupied. Aligning this tech with systems like smart lighting and heating controls can optimise energy usage in an array of domestic and commercial buildings integrated with smart technology.

4. Demand-Response Enhancement

Utilities can employ AI to analyse data and predict spikes in energy demands based on forecasts and industry demand. Targeted demand-response programmes that offer incentives for reducing usage at peak times can then be implemented to flatten demand curves. This allows energy companies to avoid distributing additional power unnecessarily to meet temporary surges in demand, as with the help of smart energy preservation tech (like solar batteries) relying on the grid may be less frequent.

5. Logistics and Transportation Enhancements

AI enables supply chain and logistics providers to optimise routes and loading capacities. It can also help transportation companies reduce fuel waste by analysing traffic patterns and deploying vehicles where they are required. Cutting down on congestion is another thing entirely; however, with the advent of more electric vehicle fleets and plenty of charging stations reachable along routes, emissions can be drastically reduced.

6. Energy Audits and Recommendations

AI applications can automate energy audits for buildings and suggest tailored improvements based on audit findings. They can take into account insulation needs, equipment upgrades, occupancy patterns and local weather conditions, producing detailed findings. Auditors provide faster, more accurate insights with the help of automated technology rather than conducting time-consuming manual inspections. Provided auditors cast watchful eyes over the technology’s accuracy and validity, this should speed operations up exponentially.

7. Aviation and Aerospace Advances

AI is enhancing aviation technology to promote fuel efficiency. Machine learning enables the testing of millions of design simulations to create lighter, drag-reducing aircraft components. AI also optimises flight patterns by factoring in aircraft size, weather and predicted flight times.

You might also like: AI in the Wild: Applications to Combat the Illegal Wildlife Trade

Considerations Around AI for Energy Conservation

While the potential for AI to optimise energy use across sectors holds much promise, there are also important factors to consider:

• Flawed training data – Like any technology, AI is only as strong as its data foundation. Models trained on limited, biased or poor-quality data will output flawed insights and recommendations. Organisations must ensure robust, representative data is used and not allow biases to influence any of their AI solutions’ outputs.
• Over-reliance on technology – AI should serve to enhance and augment human intelligence, creativity and strategic thinking, not overly replace it. When developing AI for sustainability, organisations must clearly map out its intended role alongside human teams and how the technology can be an asset, rather than a hindrance. Complete automation without ongoing oversight or contingencies can backfire if models underperform or eschew flawed data.
• Security vulnerabilities – As evidenced by chatbots like ChatGPT, powerful AI comes with data protection risks, not to mention the propensity for text generation tools to be used for malicious purposes or to perpetuate misinformation. For any AI system, strong cyber security protections must be implemented such as tighter access control, while teams must assess any claims or arguments that AI-generated text is suggesting.
• Lack of transparency – Complex algorithms can behave like proverbial “black boxes”, making it hard to understand AI decision-making. Sufficient explainability measures are needed so humans can properly scrutinise model logic, identify biases and prevent unethical outcomes.
• Increased energy demands – Large computational power is required to develop and run advanced AI programs and solutions, which has a knock-on effect on energy usage and conservation. The carbon footprint of large-scale AI-powered solutions working alongside incumbent systems must be measured and minimised where possible. Efficient hardware, renewable power sources and energy-aware modelling techniques should be pursued to preserve as much energy as possible.

The Outlook for AI in Energy Conservation

AI unlocks tremendous potential to optimise energy usage and conserve resources across many industries. Intelligent systems can streamline processes, enhance sustainability and reduce waste at scale. But for AI to fulfil its promise, conscientious development and rigorous management are crucial.

Organisations must build robust models using quality data, set well-defined AI boundaries with humans in the loop, implement robust security and data protection policies, ensure transparency, and actively minimise carbon footprints. 

If deployed ethically and strategically, AI could prove transformational in enabling organisations and consumers worldwide to use energy more thoughtfully and efficiently. 

You might also like: The Green Dilemma: Can AI Fulfil Its Potential Without Harming the Environment?

The post 7 Ways AI Can Support Energy Conservation Efforts appeared first on Earth.Org.

Waste pollution is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our lifetime. Fortunately, some innovative businesses have developed solutions to tackle waste and improve waste management in creative ways. These companies are proving that waste can, in some cases, be turned into a valuable resource.

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The Need for More Sustainable Businesses

As global waste continues to accumulate, we urgently need more businesses to incorporate sustainability into their models and help reduce waste. According to the World Bank, annual waste generation is projected to increase 70% by 2050 unless significant action is taken, and businesses have a crucial role to play in tackling this crisis.

First, more sustainable businesses are needed to help create a circular economy that eliminates waste and keeps resources in use. By redesigning products, using recycled materials, repairing and resusing, and finding new applications for by-products, companies can shift away from the traditional linear economy where materials quickly become waste. Circular models are essential to reducing humanity’s massive waste footprint.

Additionally, entrepreneurs and innovators are needed to spark new ideas and technologies that make sustainability affordable and accessible. Implementing waste solutions often requires new processes, materials, and thinking that existing businesses may be slow to adopt. Forward-thinking startups can rapidly develop and spread innovative systems to combat waste.

With smart strategies and innovation, businesses can drive progress in solving the urgent waste crisis. The growth of environmentally responsible, waste-tackling companies will benefit the environment while creating new economic opportunities. The time has come for businesses big and small to be leaders in building a zero-waste future.

You might also like: 4 Smart Waste Management Solutions That Are Revolutionising the Industry

1. Elvis & Kresse

Elvis & Kresse is a sustainable luxury brand founded in 2005 by Kresse Wesling and James Henrit. The business was started with the goal of reclaiming and reusing materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. They produce bags, belts and other accessories made from decommissioned fire hoses that the London Fire Brigade could no longer use and were going to discard. Kresse and James saw the beauty and potential in these fire hoses and sought to rescue them. They established Elvis & Kresse to reclaim these materials and turn them into high-quality and fashionable products. 

Today, Elvis & Kresse uses reclaimed materials in all of their products, including fire hoses, printing blankets, leather offcuts, parachute silk, military-grade tents and more. With sustainability and social impact at the core of the brand, Elvis & Kresse donates to various charities, including The Fire Fighters Charity and Barefoot College International. Through cutting-edge design and a dedication to reclaiming materials, Elvis & Kresse proves that high-end, eco-friendly fashion is possible. They have turned waste materials into desirable, luxury products that do good for the environment and communities. 

You might also like: How Repairing Clothes Slows Down Climate Change

2. Shaku

Shaku is a London-based luxury brand that produces high-quality scarves and accessories featuring original artwork and designs. The brand was established when its founder had the idea to create a collection of scarves that were like wearable works of art. Shaku scarves are synonymous with timeless design, traditional craftsmanship and modern style. 

The brand is aligned with the slow fashion movement, focusing on high-quality pieces that are meant to last for generations rather than single seasons. Their sophisticated designs appeal to all ages and are intended to become heirlooms, not short-lived trendy pieces. What’s more, waste materials and faulty pieces are given a new lease of life as accessories and homeware items, so they’re not wasted. They transcend fleeting fashion and seasonal changes, designed to be loved and worn for years to come. 

3. Honest Ocean

Honest Ocean was founded by Tom Jackson and Angus Fleming with the goal of reducing plastic waste in Indonesia and other parts of South East Asia. During their travels, they experienced firsthand how poor infrastructure and large volumes of imported plastic waste were contributing to massive amounts of pollution in the region, especially in the ocean. They started Honest Ocean to help create a sustainable solution to this problem.

Their model involves collecting plastic waste, sorting and recycling it, and then selling it to manufacturers who use recycled plastics in their products. This helps to keep plastics in the economy and out of the ocean. In addition to building infrastructure and supply chains, Honest Ocean works to educate and empower local communities on waste management and reduction. By organising beach cleanups and teaching people about the harm of plastics, especially single-use plastics, Honest Ocean is helping communities become more eco-friendly and self-sufficient in combating pollution.

4. Piñatex

Piñatex is an innovative and sustainable textile made from pineapple leaf fibres, a waste product from pineapple harvests. It was created by Dr Carmen Hijosa who was inspired to develop a commercially-viable and environmentally-friendly textile alternative. The process of creating Piñatex involves several steps:

• Harvesting Pineapple Leaves: After pineapples are harvested, the leaves are collected.
• Extracting Fibres: The long fibres are extracted using semi-automatic machines.
• Drying: These are sun-dried or dried in ovens.
• Purification: The fibres are purified to remove impurities.
• Combining with Bioplastic: The resulting pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is combined with polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic, to create a non-woven mesh called Piñafelt.

By using an agricultural waste product, Piñatex provides economic opportunities for pineapple farming communities and an additional income stream with minimal environmental impact. This material has been used by over 1,000 fashion and interior brands worldwide, including luxury and high street retailers. Its versatility makes it suitable for clothing, accessories, upholstery and more. Through innovation, Piñatex proves that sustainable textiles can be commercially viable while benefiting people and the planet.

Final Thoughts

These companies demonstrate that with creativity and commitment, businesses can be powerful forces for reducing waste. They have built their brands around reclaiming and repurposing materials that would otherwise end up as waste, and their success stories prove that innovative business models can indeed turn waste into value. What we have seen with these businesses is that sustainability and profitability can go hand-in-hand. Through smart design, efficient processes and creating high-quality products, they have made waste-tackling approaches financially viable and scalable. 

Featured image by EO Photographer Rayhan Ahmed.

More on this topic: How Waste Management in Germany is Changing the Game

The post 4 Businesses That Are Successfully Tackling Waste appeared first on Earth.Org.

Water scarcity is a growing crisis affecting many parts of the world. According to the United Nations, over 40% of the global population currently experiences water shortages, and this figure is expected to grow in the coming years. To make matters worse, less than 3% of the world’s water supply is freshwater suitable and accessible for human use. Sustainable access to water will be one of the defining issues of our time and it is a problem we need to tackle now. Whether through innovations in policy, technology, or individual actions, reducing water waste and using water more efficiently must become priorities around the globe. Here, we explore the importance of water conservation and highlight the significant impact of water scarcity, should we fail to take action. 

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Water Scarcity Is a Global Issue

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimates that 2 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely-managed sanitation. Parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa are already experiencing severe water stress, with populations far exceeding the availability of resources. Many experts predict that half the global population could face water shortages by 2025 if we fail to curb our consumption and waste.

Some countries will be hit harder by this problem than others. Parts of India and Asia are already facing extreme water scarcity, with some groundwater supplies depleted entirely, and many African countries also struggle with a lack of clean water infrastructure and availability. As the climate crisis worsens, countries in these areas will face even more hardship than they’re currently struggling with. 

Water shortages can result in the spread of diseases, poor sanitation, a rise in food shortages and have a devastating impact on agriculture, to name just a few. Water inequality also exacerbates global poverty as populations without access to clean water struggle to improve their living standards without this essential resource. 

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5 Impacts of Water Scarcity

1. Health and Sanitation

The impacts of water scarcity are far-reaching and damaging. A lack of clean water and proper sanitation facilities spreads diseases, with millions of deaths each year linked to contaminated water sources. 

2. Food Production and Agriculture

Water scarcity also severely impacts food production and agriculture. Much of the world’s freshwater is used for crop irrigation, and water shortages translate directly to food shortages. Naturally, this will have widespread consequences for future generations. 

3. Migrations and Conflicts

Mass human migrations and conflicts are also consequences of severe water scarcity. Water stresses can displace populations and lead to refugee crises as people move to find more liveable conditions. Water disputes also continue to increase tensions between countries that share water resources like rivers or aquifers. Several experts suggest that future wars may well be fought over access to water rather than oil.

4. Environmental Changes

Water scarcity also has irreversible impacts on the environment. In the future, we could see an increased loss of biodiversity, deforestation and desertification from water shortages. Freshwater ecosystems provide habitats for numerous plant and animal species, but many wetlands and rivers are drying up or becoming polluted. 

5. Climate Change

Deforestation also reduces access to clean water which creates a vicious cycle where water scarcity intensifies the long term effects of climate change. Experts agree that action must be taken to protect watersheds and freshwater ecosystems before we lose irreplaceable habitats and their inhabitants. Tackling this issue is critical to achieving equal and sustainable development for all. The world must take collective action to manage and share our limited freshwater resources before water stress becomes a catastrophic global crisis.

More on the topic: Causes and Effects of Water Shortages

What Can We Do to Preserve Water Sources?

1. Home Water Conservation

There are many steps individuals and communities can take to use water more sustainably and reduce waste. Simple actions like taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes, and only running full loads in the washing machine can save thousands of litres of water per household each week. Fixing leaky taps or pipes is also important, as even small drips can waste many gallons of water annually if left unfixed.

2. Landscaping and Gardening Choices

Outside the home, replacing manicured lawns and gardens with native plants and succulents can significantly reduce water needs. Where lawns are necessary, watering efficiently in the early morning and avoiding watering on windy days helps minimise waste. 

Learn more here: All You Need to Know About Sustainable Gardening

3. Innovations In Water Systems

Installing water-efficient irrigation systems and rainwater tanks to collect runoff are also impactful steps to conserve this resource. Natural pools over traditional swimming pools are also an effective swap. Natural pools rely on plants and beneficial microbes to keep the water clean and recirculate it through the pool’s ecosystem, providing the same recreational and health benefits as traditional pools with a fraction of the water needs and cost. 

4. Policy and Pricing Reform

Water pricing reform and policy changes around water rights and allocation are also needed. Putting a fair market value on freshwater and limiting overuse of aquifers and rivers will drive more conscientious usage while raising funds to improve water accessibility for those in need. Charging higher rates for high volume water usage can also encourage efficiency and conservation. Policymakers around the world must implement pricing reform for water to reflect the true environmental and social cost of this essential resource.

5. Community Education and Action

Collective action around water conservation is key. Community education campaigns, water efficiency rebate programs, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and working with local governments on water management policies all help support change on a broader scale. Every small step taken to value and conserve our limited water resources matters in securing enough clean freshwater for all. Reducing water scarcity is a shared responsibility that will require coordinated efforts across sectors and borders to achieve success. 

Final Thoughts

Water is essential for life, yet it is our most threatened resource. Despite much being said about the climate crisis in recent years, water scarcity is rarely mentioned. Raising awareness is critical to this challenge to enable communities to work together and ensure this resource is available for future generations. By transitioning to sustainable agricultural and land-use practices, decentralised water management systems and widespread adoption of water conservation measures, we can adapt to water scarcity challenges and mitigate the worst effects. 

The post Understanding the Importance of Water Conservation appeared first on Earth.Org.

In recent years, the importance of sustainability has gained increasing attention, as people became more aware of the impact of their actions on the environment. In a world that is experiencing an exceptional rise in global temperatures and is increasingly confronted with the devastating consequences of a changing climate, corporates have started to recognise that sustainability in business has evolved from a luxury to a necessity. In this article, we explore different ways to create a more sustainable workplace and reduce the environmental footprint of your company.

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The Environmental Challenges of Businesses

Businesses have a moral obligation to become more environmentally responsible and accountable, given that they are responsible for high numbers of the world’s energy consumption and carbon emissions (25.8 million tonnes are emitted by small businesses alone). 

Since the 2015 Paris Agreement and the United Nations’ Net Zero Coalition, there has been increased pressure on organisations to take immediate and meaningful action. It is only fitting that businesses take the proactive initiative to adopt eco-friendly practices across the board, for the benefit of themselves and the climate. 

Failing to do so will ultimately result in potential reputational turmoil and distrust from environmentally-conscious consumers, partners and investors. Internal and external stakeholders are demanding improved transparency when it comes to a business’s environmental programmes and policies. Customers are growing increasingly conscious of where their hard-earned money goes, with many preferring to work with companies that take sustainability seriously, according to a recent McKinsey survey. 

Conversely, businesses are under increased scrutiny, with many being accused of greenwashing and facing severe backlash to the point that their reputation is irreparably damaged. It goes without saying that committing to sustainability has to be the result of genuine effort and attention. 

In order to establish more eco-friendly workplaces across the board, businesses need to approach this challenge from several angles. They need to look at the ‌company’s culture, objectives, policies and structure, as well as their buildings, energy suppliers, products, materials, equipment, and other physical elements of their sustainability goals. Adopting an improved eco-friendly approach does not just benefit the environment but can also save long-term costs and improve a business’ reputation.

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5 Ways to Foster a More Eco-Friendly Workplace

Here are some important steps that business owners can take to create a more sustainable and environmentally-minded workplace.

1. Reduce Energy Consumption

The first step towards a more sustainable workplace is to reduce your energy usage. This has a financial benefit too; the less energy you use, the lower your energy bill. 

The company should start by replacing its incandescent bulbs with LED, low-energy versions which use less electricity and last significantly longer. Taking advantage of LED bulbs will also result in a huge cost difference, particularly if you use them strategically with plenty of natural light.

In larger organisations, it is common for energy wastage to be higher. Employees may leave desktop computers on overnight or put them on standby rather than shutting them down, and the latter is better to adopt as a practice going forward. Other ways to save energy in the workplace are to make slight adjustments to the air conditioning power and the thermostat, which, while small in the scheme of things, can contribute to huge long-term cost savings and energy efficiency. 

2. Focus on Cleaner Forms of Energy

In light of lowering energy consumption, businesses can make substantial savings and reduce their carbon footprint by switching energy suppliers and adopt alternative, sustainable types of energy to power their offices.

Switching to energy suppliers that distribute clean energy is also a good way to ensure that you are being more ethical. Even if energy prices are soaring right now, this is a much greener choice to adopt in the long run, and once prices stabilise, you will be grateful for making the jump to an eco-friendly provider.

You can also make smart choices to source renewable energy using commercial solutions like heat pumps, solar panels and batteries. This means that green energy is sourced from elements like sunlight or air, which are inexhaustible. By showing that you adopt such practices, you will be demonstrating a commitment to reducing your environmental damage.

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3. Promote Recycling and Waste Reduction

Recycling and waste reduction are essential components of a sustainable workplace. Each tonne of recycled paper saves 3 cubic metres of landfill, 7,000 gallons of water and 380 gallons of oil. In addition, currently, 55% of all the United Kingdom’s plastic waste ends up in landfills or the ocean. Commercially, businesses need to do better.

You should aim to encourage employees to recycle paper, plastic and other materials in designated recycling bins, which should be easily accessible. You could also consider implementing programmes for composting to reduce food waste, as well as reusing materials and resources when they are still able to be used. 

In the long run, you could reduce your paper usage. With today’s widespread connectivity and technological innovation, using paper should be a novelty, at best. Reducing paper usage by embracing digital transformation, and opting to use recycled paper when necessary, can be a significant greenhouse gas emission reducer (2.28-2.9 gigatons, to be exact). 

4. Promote Sustainable Transportation

Transport is a huge contributor to mass carbon emissions and pollutants. Even though the average daily commute to work does not appear that damaging on paper, when you consider the collective actions of millions of workers worldwide, it looks significantly worse. Reducing the amount of travelling that your employees do for work, particularly by car, is important for your business’s overall sustainability. 

Encourage employees to take public transport or lift shares, or incentivise them to take up schemes like the Cycle to Work scheme. Not only does this promote better health choices, but it can also provide financial benefits to businesses. This is also handy to bear in mind alongside governments’ efforts to boost electric vehicle accessibility and infrastructure in their quest to achieve net zero status by 2050.

You can significantly reduce the impact of transportation by encouraging remote or hybrid working if your business allows it. This is much more sustainable and eco-friendly and also provides work-life benefits for employees. By allowing  your team to work remotely, you will be accomplishing several goals simultaneously.

5. Implement Sustainability Policies

Think about the strategic and long-term goals you want to achieve with your sustainability efforts. Depending on your organisation, creating and implementing environmental policies and procedures will help to promote a culture of sustainability in the workplace.

Your policy should outline why you want to make your workplace more eco-friendly and how you plan to do so. This could include reducing paper usage, promoting greener commutes, or using renewable materials, and even education on how employees can make more sustainable choices. Whatever your policy, it is crucial for creating improved collective efforts towards making positive change. 

Additionally, your business can take part in large-scale initiatives to demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. You could plant trees regularly with a corporate partner like the Woodland Trust, involve yourself in reforestation and biodiversity projects from companies like Ecologi, and even offset your employees’ carbon emissions to become a net zero or even a carbon-negative company. This may take some time to establish, but doing so can be a huge green flag to prospective employees, investors and clients. 

Creating a more sustainable workplace is not only beneficial for the environment but can also save costs and improve the reputation of the business. By making small, incremental changes and then fostering a culture of sustainability, businesses can work their way up to becoming influential to others and spearheading increased efforts in protecting our planet and resources. 

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Biodiversity is vital to our survival, and our consumerist habits are putting it at risk. How can the circular economy tackle the rising loss of biodiversity and help us protect our planet?

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Biodiversity spans everything from animals and plants to fungi and bacteria, and makes up the very fabric of our natural world. It supports everything we need to survive, from the food we eat to our water supply and medicines. 

But we are losing biodiversity at an alarming rate, with an estimated 69% decline in global populations of animals, birds and fish since the 1970s, with over 90% of biodiversity loss believed to be the result of the extraction and processing of natural resources. 

Moving to a circular economy could help tackle this issue and reverse this loss entirely. Here’s how.

The Consequences of Biodiversity Loss for Our Planet

Biodiversity is the connection between all organisms on earth, creating one vital and interdependent ecosystem upon which communities and future generations depend. Every species on the planet has their role to play in biodiversity, meaning that a loss in biodiversity is likely to have a direct impact on the health of not just plants and animals but humans, too. We are all dependent on the complexity of biodiversity to survive and many of our services are dependent on protecting biodiversity, from access to fish, meat, and wood to clean air and water. 

Humankind is currently using more natural resources than the planet can sustain, and it is putting immense pressure on species, habitats and communities on a global scale. The health of our planet affects us all, and biodiversity underpins it, so we need to take any loss seriously because it could mean millions of people facing a stark future with limited access to food and water. 

Read more on the topic here: 5 Concerning Effects of Biodiversity Loss

3 Guiding Principles of the Circular Economy

1. No Product Should Become Waste

This principle is based on the notion of continually cycling through materials and products for new items, so that once an item is no longer of use, it can be repurposed rather than become waste. 

“Circular businesses are directly involved in the shift away from over-using natural resources in a “take-make-waste” economy and into circular systems where waste and pollution are avoided and ultimately eliminated”, explains Rachel Thompson, Head of Sustainability at MPB. 

2. Diversity = Greater Resilience

The more components a system has, the more resilient it will be. In nature, ecosystems are wholly interconnected but as humans, we need to find ways to make our production processes more intertwined, such as a farm producing a variety of foods if the production processes are already in place. 

In the circular economy, this principle is known as cascades and it is the process of extracting as much from materials as possible, such as producing an item of cotton clothing that can become furniture stuffing when it can no longer be worn, then insulation material before it ultimately is anaerobically digested and returned to the soil. It is thinking more innovatively about what the lifespan of a product looks like and the ways it can be used to maximise the usability of the materials for as long as possible. 

3. Produce Energy from Renewable Sources

From solar to wind power, renewable energy is something that we need to scale up globally to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, the largest contributor to carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere and thus the main culprit of the climate crisis. Deriving energy from waste is also a solution that moves the world to a more circular way of operating, helping us reach net-zero targets faster. 

According to ESWET, experts in sustainable waste management: “Improved and increased reusability, sorting, and recycling processes will play an important role in enhancing the circular economy. However, some residual waste streams, requiring safe treatment, will persist and potentially grow globally. The only viable solution for treating this residual waste is in state-of-the-art Waste-to-Energy plants, which close the loop of the circular economy”. 

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How Will the Circular Economy Help Reduce Biodiversity Loss?

Manufacturing and production spans a range of industries, from food and clothing to transport, technology and so much more. It is the biggest driver of biodiversity loss and food is the primary sector to blame, with animal-based products having the largest impact on the planet. 

As much as half the world’s habitable land is used for feeding livestock, with vast swathes of forests cleared to create more space for our food system. How we produce food needs to change, and moving to regenerative agriculture, which promotes healthier soils and sequesters CO2 from the atmosphere, is an efficient way to produce better-quality food and potentially reverse climate change. It will also help minimise our culture of overconsumption and cutting on waste. 

The mainstream linear economy and our take-make-waste habits are putting nature at risk and are exploiting the planet, emitting greenhouse gases, littering our oceans with microplastics and harming the delicate balance of the world’s natural systems. 

Waste is ultimately a design flaw, meaning we can make better use of what we have and reduce the need for always buying new items. Likewise, all industries need to find ways to make better use of their waste so we do not constantly need to mine for new materials and resources. From companies like Winnow, which provides digital tools to enable chefs to measure and design around waste, to established brands like Patagonia, doubling down on their repair and reuse scheme, more can be done to make use of items before they need to be disposed of. 

The circular economy is also one of the most effective solutions we have in tackling pollution – a major threat to global biodiversity. Pollution does not just result in greenhouse gases and damage to the ozone layer, it can also lead to the rise of invasive species, which worsen habitat degradation and climate change. While one issue may lead to another, switching to a circular economy can address all related problems at the source before further damage is done.

A circular economy offers us a framework for reducing pollution, eliminating waste and regenerating nature and ecosystems. There are various circular economy approaches we can take to support biodiversity and address the problems at the source. When the core principles of a circular economy are used together, we are able to rebuild biodiversity loss and create a healthier planet for the future. 

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