Clean technology and sustainability trends dec 2013
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Transcript of Clean technology and sustainability trends dec 2013
Trends in clean tech (adoption)
Intro speech for a debate at University of Leuven
The sources of the pictures used in this presentation are mentioned in the notes of each slide
@fdemeyer
fredericdemeyer.com
Instituteforfutureinsights
fdemeyer
DEMOGRAPHIC
• aging population • increasing world population • genY/Milennials • urbanization/geographic mobility • multi-ethnic society • new migration patterns • widening gap rich-poor
BUSINESS TRENDS
• shared value (CSR) • social Entrepreneurship • cause marketing • social business • open innovation • crowdsourcing
trends we can be relatively certain of:
TECHNOLOGY/ SCIENCE
• ubiquitous computing • disintermediation • crowdsourcing • social Media • SaaS, DIY • cloud Computing
• consumerization • augmented reality • 3D/ bioprinting • enhanced humans • NBIC technologies • biomimicry
• decentralization • gamification • virtualization • new business models
• trade blocs and unions • the Market State
trends that are taking shape but future impact relatively uncertain:
a tiny bit speculative:
SUSTAINABILITY
• global warming • scarcity of resources • energy dependency • declining biodiversity • green technologies
• urban farming • eco activism/terrorism
CONSUMER • mass customization • social/ group buying
• radical transparency •sustainable/ethical buying
SOCIETY • dematerialization • digitization
• talent shortage • boundary blurring • digital divide
GEOPOLITICS
• power shift to East • globalization 3.0 • rising middle class
• trade blocs and unions • the Market State • Virtual currencies
• ‘opting out’ • Generation Z
3 observations with regard of clean techs and sustainability
Observation #1: Many trends will indirectly affect our sustainable future
Crowdsourcing, open innovation, social buying, (etc) are shrinking the size of corporations
3D printing will reduce the need for global transport, big warehouses and (dirty) factories!
The sharing economy is getting real, and even established brands are joining
Big companies are joining:
Urban farming makes both economic and ecological sense
Conclusion?
None of these trends will have a huge impact on global sustainability until they reach a certain threshold… However, these trends are already happening, and growing fast... Sooner or later their (global) impact will be felt.
2# Companies increasingly put sustainability at the core of their strategy
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
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What really drives companies to sustainable practices…
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
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‘must do’s’ ‘major threat’
‘good to do’ ‘major opportunity’
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
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Legal framework Ethical behavior
Diversity Social inclusion
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
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‘Give back to the community’
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
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Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
Ow
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nit
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Imp
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d b
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Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
Ow
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Social entrepreneurs
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
Ow
n i
nit
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ve
Imp
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d b
y s
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Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
Ow
n i
nit
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ve
Imp
ose
d b
y s
oci
ety
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
Ow
n i
nit
iati
ve
Imp
ose
d b
y s
oci
ety
Impacts core business
Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi
Impacts business environment
Ow
n i
nit
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ve
Imp
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d b
y s
oci
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Clean techs at the core of corporate strategy
(cost reduction; efficiency gains; customer loyalty;
competitive differentiator; …)
Conclusion?
Many companies in many industries will be driven to sustainable and social practices because it makes perfect business sense (not because it’s fashionable).
Observation #3 Clean tech innovation will increasingly be ‘bottom-up’
Why sustainability innovation will likely come from Africa & Asia
Improved cooking stoves reduce CO2 emission and deforestation
…as does solar cooking
Water-based light bulbs bring light in the homes of poor
Four Nigerian girls create Pee-powered energy generator
Fourteen year old invents solar-powered water purification system
But ‘western’ people are pretty inventive too…
The reason? Climate change will impact the Western world as well…
The reason? Climate change will impact the Western world as well…
How to heat your room with 4 candle lights
This guy teaches you how to make bio-plastics
This girl invented a flash light that runs of the warmth of your hand
Conclusion?
While each by itself none of these ‘clean tech’ examples will change the face of the earth, taken together they might be an indication of people taking sustainability matters in their own hands (instead of relying on big companies or governments).
3 observations with regard of clean techs and sustainability
• Many trends will indirectly affect sustainability and the adoption of clean techs
• Companies put sustainability at the core of their strategy
• Sustainable innovation is increasingly coming from bottom-up