Over the course of human history, technology and communication have continuously changed the way we live, eat, sleep, move, and interact with each other. As we start to see a focus on sustainable technology emerging in an effort to reduce the effects of greenhouse gasses on climate change, we will also see industries change as consumers dollars are spent on products and services that are more sustainable and energy efficient. Let’t take a look at some industries we expect to see be effected by this sustainable technology.

Transportation

The SDG Industry Matrix highlights the following opportunities for shared value:

• Develop innovative transportation solutions, including pooled freighting services, which facilitate cost-effective movement of goods.
• Extend freight transport to underserved areas, for example, developing inland marine access points.
• Increase the energy efficiency of vehicles, vessels, rail rolling stock and aircraft, and accelerate the transition to transport powered by renewable energy (including development of next generation biofuels).
• Achieve zero defect production in order to minimize resource wastage and costly product recalls.
• Replace hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with natural refrigerants for transportation of food, vaccines, pharmaceuticals and other products requiring refrigeration.
• Reduce injuries, fatalities and losses from road traffic and railway accidents through the improved design, maintenance and operation of vehicles and trains (including autonomous vehicles), improved infrastructure, and road safety programs.

Food & Beverage

The SDG Industry Matrix highlights the following opportunities for shared value:

• Provide training and best practice guidance to small scale producers and retailers, including women-owned businesses, to improve the productivity, capacity, logistics and market efficiency of their operations.
• Reduce natural resources and energy used in agriculture and raw material production, processing, packaging and distribution.
• Reduce waste and emissions by reducing chemical byproducts.
• Embed sustainability criteria in procurement processes and project evaluation.
• Find alternatives to palm oil.
• Take steps to measure, reduce and report climate exposure, and set measures of accountability for all parties involved in supply chains.
• Understand end-of-product use and disposal impacts.
• Monitor and reduce food loss and waste throughout the value chain.
• Develop consumer knowledge around sustainable agriculture and consumer products, and encourage recycling and sustainable disposal of products.
• Increase organizational awareness of the sustainability aspects of products, including product design, use and disposal.

Health Care

The SDG Industry Matrix highlights the following opportunities for shared value:

• Develop innovative micronutrient supplements and food fortification solutions to reduce vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
• Increase the proportion of people attending regular health checks.
• Continue improving early diagnostic techniques.
• Develop affordable preventive, diagnostic and curative healthcare solutions for neglected tropical diseases and other health challenges in low and middle income countries.
• Invest in telehealth and telecare to reduce patient travel and improve quality of care.
• Increase proportion of energy from renewable sources and increase energy efficiency in hospitals, healthcare centers, production plants and across the logistics value chain.
• Replace cold chain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and derivative chemical refrigerants with natural refrigerants.
• Design medical devices with lower power consumption and improved end-of-product lifecycle recycling.
• Develop and implement improved processes to reduce, reuse and recycle water, raw materials, non-renewable minerals, energy, other inputs, by-products, hazardous waste, nonhazardous waste and packaging.
• Build environmentally sensitive hospitals, primary healthcare centers and production plants.

We will continue to see more and more growth and change, and it will be exciting to watch these industries move towards a more sustainable future.