Unlocking sustainable business potential

Making sustainability an integral and leading part of your business strategy is both challenging and necessary. Most importantly, our planet needs us to reimagine the way we do business in order to sustain our ecosystems. Additionally, customers, whether they are individual consumers or corporate enterprises, also demand sustainable products and services. The good news is that there is so much potential for positive growth. Let’s take a look at some key sustainability trends outlined by research by SustainAbility and Schneider Electric, and how Google Cloud technology makes for a positive impact.

First, big tech does not only disrupt economies and business models: it also contributes to new approaches towards sustainability. Schneider Electric distinguishes between two types of technologies: physical and virtual. Physical technologies supporting sustainability approaches are, for instance, electric vehicles and wind turbines. On the other hand, virtual technologies range from big data to the use of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is at the core of Google Cloud’s development of innovative sustainability tools. The Environmental Insights Explorer (EIE) is one of those tools. It was founded on the idea that data and technologies can help accelerate the actions required to enable the world’s transition to a low-carbon future. Using the EIE, city data can be explored to make more informed decisions about sustainable initiatives and opportunities. Information such as transportation and building emissions can be presented to measure, plan and act in accordance with specific climate goals. This way, the EIE can inform both ambitious business and governmental projects dealing with sustainable investments in solar, public transit, mobility alternatives, and more.

In addition, an increasing number of organizations aims to adopt circular business models. Circular business models seek to keep resources in use longer, for instance by recycling and upcycling. The main focus in these business models has shifted from recycling plastics and packaging, to limiting the consumption of finite resources and limiting emissions.

For Google Cloud, even the smallest step forward counts. We all want a healthy planet for today and tomorrow. The small choices we make each day can help us get there. ‘Your Plan, Your Planet’ provides tips to help people, from employers to customers, and the planet thrive together. The project is based on four main pillars: stuff, water, food and energy. Each of them is based on important sustainability topics, such as the circular economy to improve the re-use of stuff. Please click here to learn more about this project.

Another key trend is the development that more and more companies lead the way with strong climate commitments. On September 14, we at Google have announced our boldest statement yet: rather than being carbon neutral, we aim to be carbon free anywhere and at all times by 2030. Please find our announcement here. This means that Google is taking it a step further than a final trend identified by Schneider Electronics: companies buying renewable energy and aiming to be carbon neutral to achieve their climate goals.

Solutions such as big tech and artificial intelligence can contribute to new sustainability approaches. With Google Cloud as your trusted technology partner, you can unlock sustainable business potential and focus on what matters most: engineering a sustainable future and creating impact.