Expert Predictions For Sustainability in 2023

We’ve collected industry expert predictions for the future of sustainability in 2023.

 
As the climate crisis worsens, governments and businesses alike are being asked to spearhead efforts in reducing carbon emissions and developing sustainable practices.

We’ve asked a panel of experts to provide their predictions on sustainability in 2023.

 

Vicky Bullivant, Senior Vice President, Sustainability at NTT Ltd.

 

 
“With a rapidly increasing digital space comes increasing demands on technology and therefore higher levels of energy consumption. The question is, how do businesses manage the need for more energy with greater environmental sustainability demands coming from consumers, stakeholders and employees. I believe this will be top of mind for IT leaders across the world in 2023 and beyond.

“An organization’s carbon footprint is often measured once a year and manually, which is about as useful as only checking your investment balance annually. There is a better way: digitalizing your carbon footprint and monitoring it as closely as your profit line. This is how to ensure your business is agile enough to rise to the climate challenge.

“Businesses should start by implementing modern technologies and practices. This allows them to become proactive in dealing with climate-related challenges and respond at lightning speed while measuring the impact confidently. In this way, organizations can make informed decisions in real time without waiting for an annual report before they act to save our planet.”
 

John Phillips, General Manager, Zoura

 

 
“As we move into next year, sustainability will continue to be a key focus for businesses across all industries. Increasing external pressures mean that ESG initiatives are no longer a “nice to have” but a necessity. As consumers continue to hold organisations accountable to high standards, business leaders are becoming increasingly focused on how to do better for the planet. 

“One way in which we’ll see businesses pushing greener initiatives is by participating in the Circular Economy. As part of this, products are intentionally designed to make them easier to reuse and repurpose, meaning a reduction in energy and minimising waste in landfills. By implementing a circular model, consumers no longer need to buy into new products, instead they can subscribe to a bigger ecosystem. 

“We’ve already seen Nokia incorporate this model into their business. Customers are encouraged to hold onto their phones for longer, and trade them in for new devices when they would normally buy a new phone outright. When the phones are returned, they are given a new lease of life, and either refurbished, donated or given to another subscriber. Not only does this system create less waste and emissions, it also promotes customer loyalty. With more businesses embracing these new initiatives, we can take a step forward in transitioning from the Subscription Economy to the Sustainability.”
 

Heidi Karlsson, The Open Group Open Footprint Forum Director

 

 
“Climate change data is approaching a tipping point of a sort. It was not long ago that only governments, academics, and international bodies like the IPCC would be likely to see it as their remit to measure and report emissions. Today, almost every major business has established sustainability commitments. In fact, the U.S. Federal Government and global policymakers are now demanding a shift to carbon neutral energy systems, while the Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA) and NSA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement a requirement for some Federal contractors to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and set targets to reduce them.

“As a result, these increasingly granular goals have led to the creation of new measurement and analysis workflows. As this body of data grows – accelerated by ESG plans expanding to encompass Scope 3 emissions – it is quickly becoming an underutilized resource both within businesses and across sectors.

“There is real value to be unlocked if businesses can easily and comprehensively share emissions data with purpose-driven consumers or with key business partners. There is a major challenge, however, in terms of how that data is stored and formatted: if two systems use slightly different names for a category of emission, or even if one stores the value in grams while the other uses kilograms, the resulting discrepancies can require insurmountable amounts of manual correction to overcome.

“Over the next year, I am certain that we will see a lot more activity around automating the usage of sustainability data, sharing it in robust forms, and maximizing the value that businesses and society can derive from it. Common data formats and greater interoperability, underpinned by the work of groups like The Open Group Open Footprint™ Forum, will be a key stepping stone to that.”
 

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Chase Buckle, VP Trends, GWI

 

 
“Crisis now feels like a normality to many of us; over the past few years we’ve been inundated with bad news. From wars to the pandemic, to political upheaval, to natural disasters and now the cost-living-crisis. Consumers are struggling to find the mental bandwidth to make sense of global issues.

“This might seem to counter other trends that we’re seeing, but we believe that the fractures in the consumer sustainability narrative can no longer be ignored. If you ask an individual if they care about the environment, more than likely they will say yes. However, when you regularly ask millions of people if they care about the environment, the cracks begin to show. As with many of our trends, the truth isn’t found just in what our respondents tell us – but in how consumer responses change over time.

“Our data reveals that in over 90% of countries surveyed, interest in news, politics, social issues and current affairs has declined since 2020, by 13% in the UK specifically. Consumers are struggling to find the headspace to both make ends meet and to live a more sustainable lifestyle. As we go into next year it’s clear that consumer demand can no longer be the north star for positive industry action. Brands must take it upon themselves to employ sustainable initiatives or we risk taking a step back.”
 

Michael Wolfe, Vice President, CTO, Outdoor Wireless Networks, CommScope

 

 
“As enter 2023, sustainability will continue to be a key focus area for all industries, telecoms included. As external pressures continue to rise from consumers, governments, and environmental groups, business leaders are required to act. It’s currently estimated that telcos are responsible for between 1.6% – 3.9% of global greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, without immediate action this figure will continue to grow. In order to keep in line with the Paris Agreement, telcos must reduce their emissions by 45% before 2030, or risk contributing to the irreversible effects of climate change.  

“Around the world we’re continuing to see Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) legislation come into effect, large businesses in the UK will be required to disclose their climate related risks by this time next year, the European Union is in the process of implementing this legislation, and President Biden has signed an executive order for the federal government to limit GHG emissions. Preparing for, and complying with, these various regulations will be no small task. As infrastructure providers, we are in a unique position in that our networks are made up of multiple technologies which require constant power supplies – from data centres to relay stations, masts, and cells, to name a few.  

“Telco leaders have already set themselves ambitious internal targets to reduce power consumption and incorporate green initiatives into their organisations day-to-day activity. While not overlooking the energy consumption upstream and downstream in the supply chain, by demanding transparency into their partners’ footprint, leaders will be able to work together to tackle the issue of climate change head on. With the right initiatives and with sustainability top of mind, telcos can lead the way towards a greener future.”
 

Ruby Raut, CEO and Co-Founder at Wuka

 

 
“My prediction is more towards Carbon emission, once again this year it will be one of the most talked topic, because we havent done enough to tackle the climate crisis we are at. Sustainability predictions surrounding carbon emissions and carbon footprint are increasingly important as the world looks to reduce its negative impact on the environment. There will be more brands who will be working toward to get the B corp or carbon footprint certification as past two year, it has given a validation of doing good for planet and people. Perhaps we might see another version to B- Corp.

“In the world of fashion, sustainability predictions includes a huge shift towards more eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and plant-based fabrics. Consumers are also expected to increasingly demand transparency and ethical production practices from fast fashion brands. This trend will drive innovation and the development of new sustainable fashion technologies, with hopes of bigger brands doing more range of their collection with the new materials.

“Additionally, circular fashion initiatives such as reusing and repurposing clothing are predicted to grow in popularity, which we have already seen with big brands like Asos and Zara- but I don’t believe they are the right brands to roll out as they are also one of the biggest brand that pushes over production and consumerism.  Each year Zara launches 10,000 new styles.

“Another prediction is that there will be a rise in electric and hybrid vehicles, as consumers and businesses seek out more sustainable transportation options. This trend will peak in 2023 with many major automakers announcing plans to phase out internal combustion engines in favour of electric or hybrid models.

“I myself have moved to EV two years ago and can see so many more in the road, even going to remote places in Wales, there are some electric charger now available then before shows the demand is increasing. There are now over 620,000 battery-electric cars on UK roads compared to 205,000 in 2020.”
 

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Pete Sayburn, Co-founder and CEO at Studiospace

 

 
“I predict we will see a lot more companies become B Corps during 2023. Sustainability is high on everyone’s agenda and brands want to be seen to be doing the right thing and this means hiring ethical partners and suppliers.

“We’re seeing a rush of new registrations for B Corp status as agencies and brands look to signal their ethical values and drive up sustainability credentials. In fact, B Corp has become a de facto requirement of several brands when considering new suppliers.

“There’s a growing trend among marketers toward sustainability and people asking how they can use their talents for the greater good. A lot of very talented people want their work to have an ethical and sustainable dimension.

“So I also expect many campaigns will have a strong ethical focus and greater sensitivity towards certain issues.

“We have a number of very ethically focused agencies on our platform that are B Corps, including Create Future, Fox and Hare, Communique, Notepad, Brink, Republic of Everyone and Good Innovation.

“I expect companies such as these to be doing a lot of business during 2023 and beyond.”
 

Abdul Rahim, Founder and CEO at Software Test Tips

 

 
“Of course, sustainability is everyone’s favorite topic today, and I’m most excited to see how businesses will adapt to the recent changes.  Given the amount of plastic waste currently plaguing the environment, there is great potential for companies to invest in renewable and biodegradable packaging. We can expect to see more businesses make commitments to halting plastic use and fighting climate change in the coming years. For example, the beauty industry is highlighting the importance of using vegan products alongside biodegradable packaging (for example, Activist Skincare)

“We’ll also be seeing many companies establishing carbon removal initiatives. Companies are increasingly recognizing that the best way to address climate change is to not just reduce emissions but also to capture and remove existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We expect to see many companies moving forward with their own initiatives to support carbon removal in 2023.”
 

Joe Gilliver, Founder at The Chameleon Agency

 

 
“The first logical step is to look at where waste and carbon emissions are being generated, such as the logistics of the event supply chain, the staffing levels, the venue, energy usage, transportation of goods and visitors, as well as accessibility issues.

“In the hope that 2023 will be a year of sustainability firsts within the events industry, I have put together some predictions for 2023.

“Predictions:

• Trace by Isla. Event organisers will be much more mindful of who they are using to supply their events, and in doing so will be using apps to measure their impact and fight against greenwashing. This is where Trace by Isla comes in.

• Plant powered events will take off. Co-ordinators will be thinking about using local vendors and vegan catering more, in an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of the event. Local vendors will take away the need for big transport costs and emissions being linked to the event.

• Eco Venues and innovative technology. Venues old and new are seeing the importance of modernising with a look to a more sustainable future, such as Carlton House Terrace that has been given a well-deserved redesign that has allowed the property to be double glazed so that they can install a carbon free heating system.

• Electric Vehicles and public transport. With an emphasis on carbon emissions, we think 2023 is set to be the year that all parties involved in an events supply chain will be looking to use electric vehicles more and transitioning existing fleets of vehicles to hybrid or fully electric where possible. Venues with good transport links will become more desirable as companies attempt to link up with Public Transport Providers, potentially offering incentives for visitors travelling to events to swap the car for something a little more eco-friendly.”

 

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James Eaton, CEO and Founder at IONETIC

 

 
“Next year I expect to hear more about vehicle-to-grid, where an EV’s battery can play an active role in powering your home and the grid. Currently the Nissan Leaf is one of the few EVs on the market that allows this, but a change in legislation would make it more common and likely prompt larger EV manufacturers such as Tesla into enabling it. I think next year V2G legislation will either arrive or a date will be announced for when it will arrive.

“As a company specialising in EV battery pack technology with a close eye on carbon emissions, we always advise our clients to build vehicles with V2G capability. It’s a win for the manufacturer, consumer, and the environment. EVs parked in garages or driveways plugged into the mains can become a key part of the grid serving as ‘peak shavers’ – working to supply power to the home when demand is high. Not only this but consumers could also sell unused power back to the grid; effectively making money back from their EVs.”
 

Matt Clementson, Head of Enterprise UK at SAP Concur

 

“Over the last year, organisations saw more pressure than ever from customers and stakeholders to deliver sustainability solutions. In the long term, high sustainability organisations outperform others on both profitability and accounting performance. With business travel continuing to rebound since the pandemic, sustainability and managing carbon compensation programmes has become a priority for many. Although reducing environmental impact is not easy, company travel is a good place to start. SAP Concur research found that a quarter of business travellers (24%) would decline a trip assigned to them if it required using non-sustainable travel options.

“Businesses will need to start proactively looking at their emissions, working out how they can reduce them and publish a sustainability report. However, the process of calculating and compensating emissions can be repetitive and manual. In 2023, organisations should be looking to embrace innovative technologies for full visibility into carbon emissions to calculate emissions from spend and itinerary data. This increased visibility will enable organisations to ensure their travel experience is as sustainable as possible, analysing every travel emission with ease and equipping business leaders with the right tools to make greener travel booking and reporting effortless.”
 

Chantel Scheepers, Chief Executive Officer at OakTree Power

 

 
“The global energy crisis will likely last beyond 2023, which is why we expect energy optimisation initiatives to be front and centre of the sustainability sector. Truth be told, as challenging as energy prices have been for households and businesses in the past few months, they have encouraged consumers to explore their energy consumption.

“Emerging flexibility services for one have shown enormous potential on this front. They’re becoming increasingly popular in urban areas such as London’s city centre, where multinational organisations like the Financial Times and law firm Pinsent Masons have adopted schemes to optimise energy usage across their headquarters to improve overall energy efficiency.

“The trend is likely to enter the mainstream, as some of these schemes can get consumers rewarded for changing the times they use energy to smooth out peaks in electricity demand. This means that homes and businesses that consume less energy from 4PM to 9PM can participate in these programmes and receive financial compensation for helping out overwhelmed electricity networks. In the end, these flexibility programmes are enabling consumers to reduce their overall energy consumption, ultimately tackling bills and CO2 emissions.”
 

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Olivier Usher, Head of Research at Challenge Works 

 

 
“Energy will continue to dominate the conversation in 2023 – where we get it, how we manage it, how we reliably accelerate the move to renewables and how we undo decades of climate damage.

“The ongoing energy crunch is forcing the hand of many nations to look beyond established renewable generation and consider ambitious innovation. Space-based solar power generation has gained traction in the last 12-months and could be on the cusp of becoming a part of energy policy, alongside advances in nuclear fusion.

“While recent conversations have been around electricity shortages, as more renewables come online, producing an abundance of cheap power, there will be a greater focus on what to do when there is too much to handle.

“We will see energy storage innovation become a priority – like Finland’s sand battery or “gravity batteries” being developed by the likes of Edinburgh-based Gravitricity. We will see more start-ups harnessing excess power to enhance other parts of life, for example providing light and warmth to boost food production.

“2023 could finally be a tipping point for carbon sequestration, particularly around how we monetise nature-based interventions to shift the carbon market from incentivising emissions reductions to actual removal of atmospheric CO2. Tech that can measure in real time the emissions being emitted and absorbed by land use will become very valuable.”
 

Jack Richards, Consumer & Brand Intelligence Expert at Talkwalker 

 

 
“In 2023, sustainability, ESG and CSR topics will come to the fore even more than we have already seen. They’ll no longer be an added bonus or an afterthought, but instead come to the front of consumers’ minds in a way that makes sustainability strategy an absolute necessity for brands and other organisations.

“Our latest trends report reveals that consumers in 2023 want businesses and their brands to take action with 82% wanting companies to put people and the planet before profit. It’s clear – consumers don’t want to hear buzzwords like sustainability, green, or net zero. We’re in an era of demanding authenticity from brands, where their actions meet their words in an authentic way, and a genuine difference is made.

“The coming year will see disruptor brands focused on sustainability take a larger share of the market. And, we’ll see savvier consumers interrogate environmental claims, leading to more backlash against potentially inauthentic approaches or, worse, greenwashing.
 

Volodymyr Levykin, founder and CEO at Skyrora

 

“Sustainability in space will continue to be a key theme throughout 2023, especially as intergovernmental organisations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) has pledged to build a foundation for a more sustainable space sector. The UK can play a crucial role in working towards net zero emissions and addressing the space debris problem.

“Skyrora plans to be at the forefront of this; we spent a lot of time in 2022 continuing to develop our sustainable rocket fuel, Ecosene. Our advancements in this solve a two-fold issue: the plastic waste problem and the historical environmentally detrimental aspect of space exploration. Ecosene is created by converting non-recyclable plastic waste into high-grade aerospace fuel, and our findings have shown that, by 2030, Skyrora alone will have saved more than 3000 tonnes of waste plastic that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill by using Ecosene for our rocket launches. Moreover, when compared to traditional fossil to fuel processes, there’s a 70% carbon footprint reduction using Ecosene compared to rocket fuels currently in use.

“As such, I expect to see the continued development of our sustainable rocket fuel, Ecosene in 2023. Not only as members of the space industry but as people living together on Earth, it is vital that we place higher importance on sustainability – especially as we begin to see even more extreme weather patterns emerge in the future. Additionally, our ‘Space Tug’ will be a key part of our ‘green’ endeavours, as it can clean up unused or broken satellites in the Earth’s atmosphere.”
 

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Talia Rafaeli, Partner at KOMPAS VC

 

 
“One main theme that emerged at COP 27 was how we tackle emissions in industries that have until now gone under the radar. For example, cleaning up the carbon-intensive construction industry and reducing energy consumption in buildings have emerged as issues that we must address in 2023 and beyond. Despite all the commitments we hear from governments on net-zero goals, the world simply cannot achieve anything without addressing the challenges in the building sector. It is in the built environment where the greatest sustainability challenge exists.

“Anyone tangentially involved with the built environment is highly familiar with the 40% stat — the percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions attributed to constructing and maintaining our cities and buildings. This astronomical statistic is yet to light some serious activist fire and the building sector has not received nearly the amount of attention that it deserves given the havoc it wreaks on the environment.

“Next year I think that the quicker we provide financing to scale sustainable technologies for the built environment, the faster we reach economies of scale to allow for widespread adoption. We need more investments in lower-emission concrete, green steel, cooling technologies to lower the wasteful HVAC systems, heat pumps, and solve the installation network bottleneck. The public and private investment funds, whether sovereign, corporate or venture capital, that have raised billions in fresh powder are needed to support the scale and adoption of these technologies, particularly around less affluent regions. If we only concentrate our ambitions on well-developed cities and regions we will not be doing enough to lower future emissions.

“While governments can set the stage, establish frameworks, provide underlying incentives and define ceilings, the mass effort will need to be collective. The onus to lower costs and facilitate adoption growth of new technologies through economies of scale will ultimately fall on the private sector. Governments won’t finance this alone.”
 

Matthew Cockerill, Independent Strategic Design Consultant

 

 
“The most sustainable behaviour is to keep the tech product you already own for longer. Manufacturers are starting to pay serious attention to helping us make our tech products last longer. Apple has introduced its first Self Service Repair Store and Samsung and Google have partnered with iFixit to supply spare parts for their smartphones. We now need to think beyond these iterative improvements to our existing supply chains of design, production, and distribution.

“Whilst many progressive companies are now starting to develop circular practices around reverse logistics, the tech space is yet to adopt it. Traditionally, a product flows one way – from a manufacturer, through a distributor, to a retailer and finally, the consumer. With reverse logistics the product is returned from the consumer back to the manufacturer.

“In theory, manufacturers would welcome back their products at scale—not just for destructive disassembly for material recovery, but to refurbish and resell their own products or even remanufacture them to improve performance to take advantage of technical advances – using new techniques to modify and improve existing components. Anything to delay the product reaching destructive recycling.

“Once a tech product is no longer viable, they can consider parts harvesting. This involves individual components and sub-assemblies that still have value so that materials are not condemned to destructive recycling. These can be used for the repair of other existing products or in the design and manufacture of a new generation of products.
 

Chris Bennett, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Evora Global

 

 
“We are going to see ESG data and risk rise up the business agenda during 2023. Extreme weather events such as summer heatwaves, freezing weather and floods are putting risk and the environment on everyone’s radar. We need to take action on many fronts and everyone is asking: ‘What should I do?’ In my view, a data-led approach is the right way to tackle it.

“No-one can deny climate change is real and that we need to plot a new course. Environmental risk is now a key boardroom topic and I predict it will not come off the agenda anytime soon.  It’s really unfortunate that ESG has somehow become a political battleground. Sadly, this battle will continue throughout 2023 and possibly beyond.

“However, I believe that those who are serious about the environment also need to take responsibility in doing a better job of explaining why ESG is important. So whether this is a prediction or, perhaps, more of a hope, I’d like to see more clarity on the subject and some better standards introduced.

“Investors are already taking ESG data seriously and recognise it is essential when they are making investment decisions. In time, I believe ESG metrics will become as important as financial ones.”
 

Professor David Hill CBE, Chairman at Environment Bank

 

 
“As a consequence of COP15, biodiversity loss is now being recognised as an existential threat equivalent to that of climate change in both impact and urgency. With 55% of global GDP reliant on what nature provides, corporations have finally woken up to the threat posed by biodiversity collapse.

“First and foremost, I predict that the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) will move closer to mandating corporate reporting. This will lead to businesses compensating for residual impacts on nature, through investing in large-scale nature restoration schemes.

“Corporate businesses will also need to become nature-positive to attract and secure investment, which should be considered in business strategies now. In 2023, nature will be embedded into corporate risk assessment before being formally mandated as a reporting requirement within two years.

“In addition, I predict a change in food production, with a transition away from industrial chemical-driven farming to the deployment of agroecological approaches, which will move large areas of land into regenerative practices. This will include building and managing soil, organic material, and continuous cover rather than large-scale ploughing and bare soils leading to better soil water retention.

“Integrating Habitat Banks such as those being pioneered by Environment Bank in association with better land management and sustainable food production is at the heart of our Nature Credits product for the corporate sector. We will escalate the beacon of hope that sees ecosystems rebuilt at scale within a relatively short time period and making nature economically visible will become mainstream in the way we use land.”
 

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Tim Smith, Design x Creative Tech Director at NewTerritory

 

 
“As our climate crisis becomes more critical, sustainable practices behind the tech industry’s products and services are going to be under the spotlight. Evolving from a general shift of consumers investing in greener technology to live more sustainable lives, we’re also seeing increased consumer awareness of the concrete credentials behind the manufacture of what they’re buying. A great example of this is electric vehicles.

“Whilst motorists are being encouraged to transition to EVs, there are some fundamentally problematic ethical and environmental issues related to the extraction of cobalt used for EV batteries and the EV supply chain. Manufacturers are going to have to change their ways in order to keep up with today’s conscious consumer.

“We’ll be seeing a progression towards processes that consider the environment at all stages of production – from materials themselves to methods of transport – as well as how sustainable the product is to use and its end of life. In short, the industry won’t be able to get away with selling ‘sustainable’ smart technology whose own manufacture damages the planet.”
 

Namrata Sandhu, CEO and Co-Founder at Vaayu

 

 
“We all know the climate crisis isn’t going away. Now more than ever, businesses will be required to play their part in the fight against climate change with the urgent and timely action that it requires. Last year we saw extensive legislation roll out on the environmental claims that brands can make and with regulators looking to introduce further legislation in the near future, investment in climate  goals does not look set to slow down as companies prepare for these new guidelines.

“In 2023, decarbonization plans will become business-critical and access to accurate, real-time data on carbon emissions will be a priority – you can’t cut what you can’t measure. We can expect to see an increase in companies investing in climate technology solutions in order to reduce emissions across their business at scale, improve the accuracy of their data and produce credible reporting. Investment in carbon reduction methods now will benefit businesses financially and reputationally in the coming years.”
 

Gary Orr, Chief Commercial Officer and Global Head of ESG at XDS Brand 

 

 
“Earth Overshoot Day, a day when humanity will have used nature’s resource budget for the entire year, is due to be acknowledged globally towards the end of July next year with Ireland’s date set for some time in April. This should be a wakeup call to businesses that sustainability is one of the biggest challenges facing the corporate world today.

Businesses need to review their ESG objectives including their packaging design. With the legal obligations mounting, Gartner’s latest supply chain prediction estimates that 9 out of 10 organisations will fail to meet their 2025 sustainable packaging goals so we need to make reducing our carbon footprint a top priority.

I believe that more and more businesses are going to be turning to technological solution tools that use solid, validated data sources and the latest scientific methodology, to help them make data driven and cost effective decisions as they face deadlines for internal ESG objectives.”
 

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