All around the globe, countries are laying down plans and setting various targets to help make the world a more sustainable place by 2050. Some of these plans and target are ambitious but thanks to the advent of progressive new technological developments, they now have the potential to become reality.

Technology is fundamentally changing the way we live and work – and in recent years, sustainability has been a key driver of technological advancement. Today, as the world faces a series of unprecedented challenges, technology can play a crucial role in building a more sustainable future…

It’s not all about the environment

When we talk about sustainability, the environment often comes to mind first but equally important are environmental and social aspects. Technology plays a big part in all three of these areas.

In order to promote economic and environmental sustainability, social sustainability has to be addressed first. This means getting people to commit to sustainable practices such as recycling, conserving water and turning off the lights when they leave the room. Often, this involves making it as convenient as possible for them to do so. There are many technological advances, such as smartphone apps, that allow people to control all of these things through the touch of a button.

In terms of achieving sustainable economic growth, there are also a lot of ways technology can help here. Technological advances in health, business and the environment provide organisations and communities with a wealth of opportunities through the introduction of new jobs and by making operational processes more streamlined, for instance.

Environmental sustainability then helps to maintain our way of life, as well as social and economic requirements. For example, green technology such as solar panels and wind turbines can help to replace practices and methods that damage or deplete natural resources with more sustainable and efficient ones.

Enabling a range of applications

Not only is technological innovation booming, but it is also rapidly shifting towards sustainable solutions – with many of the most promising technologies from companies all around the world having a clear environmental, economic and social focus. From a wind turbine that also functions as an apartment block, hotel and tourist attraction to a pipe that allows residents to generate electricity whenever they turn on their water taps or flush the toilet.

Smartphone apps are also continuing to play a massive role in sustainable living – making it easier than ever for people to take care of the environment, use resources more efficiently and boost savings. For example, there are a number of apps available which help users find restaurants or shops that source their food or materials from local, ethical and sustainable suppliers.

Equally, technology is enabling both customers and businesses to monitor and analyse data – helping them to be more sustainable and save money at the same time. For example, EC Electronics has helped to manufacture commercial fridges with inbuilt data management technology, which checks the fridges every hour to ensure they are not over-exerting energy. This technology also helps to reduce waste by ensuring food is kept in optimum conditions.

But there are plenty more where these came from. As well as energy and food, technology can also be seen across a number of other pathways to sustainability including public infrastructure, water, manufacturing and mining, materials and information technology.

At EC Electronics, we are constantly looking for new ways to improve production techniques and to advance technologies – always with sustainability in mind. Over the years, we are proud to have been involved in the design and manufacture of a number of products, which are helping to create a more sustainable future. 

Please get in touch today to find out more about our best-in-class electronics manufacturing services.