Sustainable Technology is Here – Are You Ready for the Change?
Written by Minna Sajama
Sales Manager
Sustainable technology is not just a vision for the future, but a reality of today. New requirements demand sustainable solutions, and when designed effectively, they offer a competitive advantage. Read our sustainable business expert Minna’s perspective on why change is essential – and how organizations can make the most of it.
Change is constant, whether we want it or not. Technological development, digitalization, and climate change constantly reshape our society and work life. Change brings challenges in finding new business practices, new ways of operating, and examples on how organizations can benefit from the changes in the surrounding world.
Change is always an opportunity – although embracing it can be difficult if current practices are not questioned or abandoned. Sustainable technology is the enabler of our time, providing new insights to organizations as well. Sometimes, though, initiating change can be uneffective. So, how should we approach sustainable technology?
SDG Defines the Guidelines for a Sustainable Future
Sustainable technology can be interpreted in many different ways. The definition often depends on a company’s own sustainability goals and views on what a sustainable future should look like. Since there are as many visions as there are companies, the global community has created the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) to unify the idea of a sustainable future.
The SDG contain 17 goals and 169 concrete targets to be implemented by 2030. Not all of these goals are directly related to sustainable technology, but some do force companies to question the sustainability of current solutions. For example, Goal 9, Target 9.1, addresses sustainable industrialization and innovation, including supporting people’s well-being and promoting equity. The SDGs are constantly evolving, and the latest 2024 report shows that only 17% of the goals have been achieved so far. Keeping an eye on updates is wise if you want to stay ahead in these changes.
Lifecycle Determines Whether Your Product is Truly Responsible
Sustainable technology plays a key role when it comes to responsible product development. Sustainability does not only refer to the physical characteristics of products, even though it is often associated with that in everyday language. Even if a product is physically durable and withstands rough use better than its competitors, it’s no longer enough.
When discussing sustainable technology, we talk about the entire lifecycle of a product, from material choices to the surrounding service or software. It’s not enough for a product to be physically durable if its material choices contradict sustainable development. Year by year, consumer expectations are rising, and there is simply no room for irresponsibly made products anymore.
Case: Green Coding and Green Steel
With good design and the right material choices, you can extend a product’s lifecycle, influence material flows, and thereby support sustainable development. For example, Green Coding can create energy-efficient software solutions that improve performance and reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.
An example of material choice is a trending topic, green steel. Green steel refers to steel produced with low emissions. It is made without carbon emissions, and fossil-free energy sources are used in its production. It is a great example of the types of material choices a company can make if their goal is to reduce their carbon footprint.
Green Coding and green steel are not the only options for sustainable technology—there are plenty of different alternatives to search and explore.
How to Start Developing Sustainable Technology?
The first step towards sustainable technology is to choose a responsible partner. A responsible partner not only understands sustainable technology but also supports responsibility through their own actions. Responsibility is like a puzzle, where each piece has its role. If one piece is missing or not in the right place, the whole picture will not be complete. The same applies to sustainable technology and product development – and that’s why every part of the puzzle must take responsibility.
A good partner offers top-tier expertise, but the best are also bold enough to challenge and share even the wildest ideas. Sustainable technology needs courage to challenge current norms and the bravery to take the leap.
At Huld, our values are built on being bold —no challenge is too big or small for us to solve. We want to contribute to developing sustainable technology, piece by piece. We know that global challenges cannot be solved with yesterday’s inventions.
Are you ready to take your technology to the next level responsibly? Huld’s experts will help you develop quality and safe technology that lasts into tomorrow – and beyond.