Innovation & Technology
The latest products, services, design approaches and business models that are helping organizations of all sizes deliver on their sustainability ambitions and establish a new business as usual
New AI Energy Score Helps Users Rein in Its Negative Impacts
The new scoring system establishes a clear benchmark for the energy efficiency of AI models. The initiative rates 166 commonly used AI models to help developers and AI users identify those that use less energy and incentivize sustainable AI developme... View More
This Startup Aims to Restore the Ocean’s Power to Store Carbon
Gigablue’s ‘AI-optimized CDR’ approach is designed to re-create the optimal conditions for phytoplankton to play their part in oceanic carbon sequestration, with a goal to sequester 1Gt of CO₂ annually by 2030. ... View More
How Biomimicry Continues to Optimize Air Travel
A ‘sharkskin’ coating is the latest nature-inspired innovation helping reduce aircraft fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, by reducing frictional resistance. ... View More
French Study Uncovers Health Threats Hidden in Our Drinking Water
A Université de Toulouse study reveals 98% of microplastics present in the city’s drinking water are too small to be detected by current EU water-safety protocols, which considerably underestimate their presence and their health risks — not just... View More
Future-Proofing Brews: Welcome to the Era of Climate-Resilient Beer
Ekonoke is farming hops indoors — safeguarding and revolutionizing the brewing industry through a sustainable, reliable supply of high-quality, customizable hops year-round. ... View More
unspun Is on a Mission to Tailor Fashion Production
The startup’s FitOS platform recommends the perfect sizes to customers and helps brands tailor their fit and inventory accordingly. ... View More
In 2025, Let’s Unleash 3,143 Climate Opportunities Across the US
It is time for visionary state and city leaders across the US to pick up the baton from federal institutions — launching bold initiatives to fight climate change and creating green jobs at the local level. ... View More
Zero Emissions: We Came to Collaborate
Despite outward differences between industries, most companies face similar challenges when it comes to sustainability — especially related to carbon-associated logistics. Only by working together can we create clean solutions. ... View More
Meet the Startup Remolding the Future of Fashion
Simplifyber is redesigning fashion production with a cellulose-based, liquid fiber that can be molded for a variety of applications, including shoe uppers — bypassing 60% of traditional manufacturing steps and significantly reducing waste, energy u... View More
Pursuing AI Responsibly: A Business Technologist Perspective
SustainableIT.org has developed a framework and set of principles to guide responsible AI application deployment. While the guidance is uniquely informed by the business technologist perspective, it is pertinent to leadership from the boardroom to th... View More
AI: The Good, the Bad, the Sketchy and the Lifesaving
You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have AI. The game-changing technology and its many applications and implications were examined throughout the week at SB’24 San Diego. ... View More
Redesigning the Food System for Resilience: Lessons from the Field
Another central thread throughout SB’24 San Diego highlighted the efforts underway by startup innovators, multinational brands and NGOs to redesign our food system for resilience. ... View More
Bioengineering, Biomimicry Spawn Novel Solutions to Marine Plastic Pollution
Ingenuity from UK and US universities has led to the development of next-generation solutions to eliminating plastic waste — particularly, in tricky marine environments. ... View More
Helios: An Out-of-This-World Solution for Decarbonizing Steelmaking
Inspired by work on lunar resource extraction, the Helios Cycle creates zero direct emissions and uses 30% less energy than traditional methods of extracting iron — offering transformational potential for the heavy-emitting steel industry. ... View More
Unilever Refreshing Fragrance Formulas with Upcycled Flowers
The consumer-goods giant is working with the University of Nottingham to develop sustainable fragrances from waste plants, in a bid to reduce emissions and reliance on petrochemical ingredients. ... View More
Bioengineered Plants Offer Superior Indoor Air Purification
Neoplants' microbiome system uses advanced science and nature to purify indoor air 30 times more effectively than regular plants, offering a continuous and energy-efficient solution to improve air quality in homes and offices. ... View More
Bridgestone Partners to Create Closed-Loop Ecosystem for Tires
The collaboration will see end-of-life tires transformed through pyrolysis into elastomers, which Bridgestone can then use to produce new tires. ... View More
Lidl Launches Industry-First, Partially Plant-Based Ground Meat
The new product, 60% minced beef mixed with 40% pea protein, aims to reduce environmental impact while providing customers with a familiar taste at a lower cost: It has a 37.5% lower carbon footprint — and is 33% cheaper — than traditional ground... View More
Mars Seeks Innovators to Reduce the Footprint of Pet Food
The Next-Generation Pet Food Program aims to scale sustainable innovations for the pet food value chain, with a focus on sustainable proteins and fats. ... View More
Aspen Vodka Raises Spirits Sustainability to a Whole New Level
Aspen Distillers’ new, carbon-negative facility — the world’s first LEED Platinum-certified distillery — includes a parcel dedicated to regenerative agriculture and pioneering water re-entry processes, and is designed for net-positive energy ... View More
