We’re currently seeing a real inflection point in sustainability efforts to save our planet.
If you are into creating, designing, producing, or delivering physical goods, I trust you have already engaged in healthy debates on your eco-friendly practices.
As modern consumers, most of us expect companies to be environmentally friendly in everything they do. It goes from the sources, the actual products, the supply chain to how they communicate and manage their brands.
However, such eco-friendly innovations have a cost, and other considerations keep beating sustainability. For instance, health and safety have been a major one in the heart of the pandemic. It left an impact on how consumers are making decisions.
How much did we think of protecting the environment with the single-use masks, gloves, and hydro-alcoholic gels we have been actively using during the past year?
A large part of the population is also still eco-skeptical. Often citing higher cost, lack of choice, and need for convenience as the reasons for their choices. Instant gratification and the “I want it now” mindsets are tough to change!
So, how can you navigate all these tensions and handle such paradoxes when designing and building your future products?
The simple answer is that you have no choice and no excuses: our planet cannot wait. Focus on sustainability now!
If your company doesn’t have an overarching vision for sustainability yet, now is the right time for product teams to help define one.
Here are a few approaches you can take, from the most practical to the visionary ones:
- Eliminate plastics and other non-sustainable materials from your product and packaging – as much as you possibly can. If you can’t avoid plastics, work on using post-consumer recycled plastic, not virgin materials, and avoid single-use plastics.
- Think smaller and less in the way you design the inner parts of your products and focus on a smaller footprint. Every component counts: from electronic circuit boards to screws, magnets, accessories.
- Focus on renewable energies for each part of your operations. Look at ways you can influence the shift away from fossil energies in your factories or offices. It’s trickier for your supply chain, so focus on which transportation will be the least impactful. For example, do you need to expedite with airfreight, or can it come on a slow boat from China?
- Participate in reforestation and afforestation projects. It is a longer-term shot, but you don’t need to create it all from scratch. Your company can join existing initiatives that already have a proven impact. Just Google it! You’ll be amazed at how many projects are at your fingertips.
These are just a few ideas to get the ball rolling. I’m sure you have already thought of other ways to help protect our planet both in your professional and personal life.
Keep it going. Future generations will thank you for that!