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

frederic@i4fi.com

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

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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

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Legal framework Ethical behavior

Diversity Social inclusion

Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

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‘Give back to the community’

Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

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Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

Impacts business environment

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Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

Impacts business environment

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Social entrepreneurs

Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

Impacts business environment

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Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

Impacts business environment

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Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

Impacts business environment

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Impacts core business

Frederic De Meyer @ i4fi

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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

@fdemeyer

frederic@i4fi.com

fredericdemeyer.com

Instituteforfutureinsights

fdemeyer

…let’s debate…