9 Sustainability Trends in 2021 That Will Define the Future. | May 4th, 2021.
Sustainability isn’t just a trend anymore — it’s the name of the game. Businesses have finally realized that sustainability doesn’t need to be a limitation to success. It’s an opportunity to innovate and grow their companies in new ways.
This led to significant sustainability developments in 2020. The world’s biggest companies and governments are pledging to cut back on deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste.
Sustainability won’t stay the same in 2021, however. It will be even more significant and complex as well as bolder. From changes in supply chain management, government regulation, and electric cars, there will be a lot going on in sustainability during the following year. Below are nine sustainability trends in 2021 that are worth paying attention to.
1. Sustainable Supply Chains
Supply chains used to represent a black box that regular people knew nothing about. A company could say its main operation was worker-friendly and sustainable, but that didn’t stop them from outsourcing to companies that don’t follow the same principles.
This has changed in recent years. Today, consumers want to know that the suppliers for businesses are sustainable and treat their workers with dignity. Companies will add transparency to their supply chains to prove their commitment to sustainability.
2. Circular Economies
The days of single-use products are coming to an end. It isn’t only consumers that are switching to reusable products. Companies can now work with recyclable material to manufacture their products.
That is to say, companies need to change their supply chain strategies to use less single-use materials. For example, there would be no more fast food packaging made of Styrofoam or plastic. Instead, companies will switch to recyclable materials like paper or wood pulp for their food packaging.
Companies will also need to manufacture products differently. In the past, companies used up a lot of raw materials to manufacture a single product. The factory would have to keep a lot of inventory on hand if a customer wanted to switch to another product.
However, with the increase in circular economies and sustainable supply chains, companies will reduce their inventory by working with suppliers that use recycled materials. That is, there will be fewer overhead costs, which will help business margins grow.
3. Electric Cars
Electric cars are here to stay. It’s a trend that is just getting started and will have a massive impact on the way we live in the future.
Tesla was the only game in town for a while. However, many of the major auto manufacturers are beginning to create their own electric cars. Ford, for example, is eliminating many of its gas car models; it is using the money they save to invest in electric vehicles, and the company will start competing with Tesla seriously in the next few years.
4. Government Regulation
As climate change continues to create more extreme weather globally, governments will step in to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by businesses.
Many countries have already implemented carbon taxes and cap-and-trade requirements for companies. These requirements will encourage companies to become more sustainable. So, expect governments to get more aggressive about climate change mitigation efforts in the next few years.
The current goal for many governments is to be carbon-neutral by 2050. It’s a big goal, so expect the coming regulations to be strong enough to meet that goal.
5. Eco-Friendly Tourism
Traveling is a leading cause of the destruction of wildlife habitats. When people come in and disrupt natural environments, it wreaks havoc on nature’s ecosystems. However, people are beginning to realize this and want to travel more sustainably.
Wilderness areas are becoming more popular, but they can’t be kept in their natural state without limiting tourism. That’s why many countries have implemented strict limits on the number of tourists that can visit wilderness areas.
6. Zero-Waste Cities
As cities develop, their landfills will grow with them. This is a massive problem because, without proper recycling and disposal methods in place, more and more waste will be generated.
Many cities are taking steps to reduce the amount of waste they produce. They’re passing laws to reduce food waste, ban plastic bags, and provide more recycling facilities. Companies will need to adapt their business strategies to this trend as well.
7. Sustainable Food Options
Food production is a significant contributor to climate change. Therefore, there will be considerable efforts to curb food waste, especially in areas where people consume a lot of food.
There are many ways that companies and individuals can go about reducing food waste. You can avoid buying overstocked products at the grocery stores, minimize packaging use, and use composting facilities.
The meat replacement trend is also a big one. As more people switch to vegetarian and vegan diets, companies will need to adapt. They can do so by investing in additional plant-based food options for their consumers.
8. Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility — something that used to be considered something nice for businesses to do — is becoming a mandatory component of companies.
As consumers hold businesses accountable for their social and environmental impact, they’ll need to develop proof that they’re making a positive impact. Companies will need to create policies and strategies that reduce their carbon footprint and ensure that the materials they use are ethically sourced.
9. Microgrids Become More Popular
Microgrids are small, individual systems that produce and store electricity locally. Since you can isolate microgrids from a larger power grid, the energy they create is more reliable than traditional energy sources.
Renewable energy sources are a great source of power for microgrids. Because of the increasing number of countries investing in solar, wind, and other renewable technologies, these green energy sources’ costs will continue to fall and make microgrids more accessible for everyone.
The Sustainability Trends in 2021 Are Worth Paying Attention To
Sustainability isn’t just an afterthought for businesses these days. Consumers are becoming more environmentally aware, and they will start voting with their wallets if companies they like don’t start taking things seriously.
It is, therefore, essential to find partners who share your vision and will work with you to make a sustainable brand. If you’re looking for someone to help, Miniwiz has sustainability products and services that will do the job. Check out our services and news to learn more about what Miniwiz offers.