The most-used tech for business and sustainability
See how 600 c-suite executives are using emerging technology to help business and the planet prosper together
Here are the key tech-focused highlights from the second annual Business and the Fourth Wave of Environmentalism report.
When business leaders were asked which emerging technologies they were investing in for both revenue and sustainability goals, AI, automation and robotics led the list. Explore the tabs below to learn more by sector.
Technologies that leaders are investing in for both revenue and sustainability.
The least adopted technologies were blockchain and sensors — still important areas where leaders can gain a competitive advantage, especially if blockchain increases clean energy use or is powered by renewable energy.
On the bleeding edge, Microsoft plans to leapfrog competitors by removing more carbon from the air than they produce by 2030, a promise backed by a $1 billion investment in developing carbon removal technologies.
Fourth Wave tech investment surges
The environmental impact of advanced tech
Business leaders are increasingly confident that technological advances are having a positive effect on the way businesses impact the environment, with data analytics, automation, AI and sensors showing the most promise.
Share of business leaders who see environmental benefits of these innovations.
Investment lags, creating an opportunity gap
But despite an overwhelming belief that emerging tech can boost both ROI and sustainability, only 59% of leaders are actually investing in tech for this purpose, with retail, finance and manufacturing furthest behind.
The gap between what business leaders believe and their investment is 33 points.
What business leaders believe (left) and their actual investment (right).
This 33-point gap represents a critical opportunity for companies to deliver on their sustainability commitments and lead on climate — potentially winning over consumers and investors. To learn more, download the full report.
Environmental Defense Fund commissioned KRC Research to survey 600 business leaders at the CEO, VP/SVP and director levels, at companies with $500 million to $5 billion in revenue. The sample was balanced across five industries: retail, manufacturing, energy, technology and finance.