Despite the fact that technology is often codified as unsustainable, it can actually help us create a better, sustainable future.
For World Environment Day, we look at three technologies that will help us reduce our environmental impact.
1. Blockchain for smarter supply chains.
‘Supply Chain 4.0’ is the beginning of an era of new supply chains. It is, fundamentally, a digital supply chain, breaking away from the traditional paper-based one. The digital supply chain is:
- Permanent
- Decentralised
- Traceable
- Ethical, sustainable and honest
Digital supply chains are able to forecast and solve problems that exist within the supply chain. They’re smart: not only are they mostly automated, digital supply chains can predict problems before they happen, and as such they can be dealt with.
But how does this help us on the environmental front?
Supply Chain 4.0 is traceable through blockchain technology. This makes it possible to track the impact of the supply chain processes on the environment. AI allows the company to predict the future impact of their actions on the environment, so they can then adjust their plans to avoid this.
2. Advanced manufacturing.
Advanced manufacturing generally makes us think of automation, but it can also incorporate artificial intelligence, blockchain, and VR/AR. It fundamentally prizes safety, responsibility and efficiency above all else.
This means creating industries that are fundamentally digital.
Advanced manufacturing can improve environmental impact by reducing human footprints. Manufacturing can also help the ethical aspect: it reduces the impact of manual, forced labour on poor workers and communities.
Sustainable manufacturing can also mean using environmentally-friendly technologies, ones that are powered by renewable energy or that have a limited effect on the environment.
3. Renewable energy in tech.
Renewable energy in technology can be beneficial on several fronts. This year’s theme for World Environment Day is beating air pollution, and renewable energy can allow us to do just that.
For example, blockchain can use a large amount of energy through its design. In fact, Bitcoin proof-of-work uses almost as much power as entire countries. While not all blockchains consume as much power as Bitcoin, they have a significant negative impact on the environment.
Renewable energy – solar, water, wind power – can be used to power blockchain itself. It can also be utilised to power other technologies, such as automated machines. If technologies are backed with renewable energy, they can have the freedom to improve without an increased environmental footprint.
STAMP is bringing traceability into supply chains to ensure they are secure and sustainable. To find out more, click here.