In this forever evolving world, we live in it is getting easier and cheaper to be eco-friendly because unfortunately, it is becoming more vital. From renewable energy to waste reduction and sustainable products, every day people are embracing innovative approaches to create a greener future.
Here are some of the biggest sustainability trends from 2023 and how they're helping shape a greener future.
Sustainable Transport Trends
Many forward-thinking countries are investing in themselves making public transport free as in 2020 passenger vehicles accounted for 41% of all the words CO2 transport emissions.
According to findings from the University of Oxford, opting for a bicycle instead of a car for just one daily journey can result in a remarkable 67% reduction in an individual's carbon emissions. This highlights that even if it's not feasible to replace every car trip, the potential for emission reduction remains significantly substantial.
Electric cars are a huge craze right now most car companies investing money in the research and creation of vehicles with electric batteries or hybrids. Some controversial models include the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the arguments were regarding Mustang’s brand image is heavily related to the adventurous spirit and extremely recognizable engines with most producing a hellish stock horsepower.
A brand, whose popularity soared in 2020 to become the most valuable automaker to ever exist is Tesla. As many automakers are trying to develop cheaper and cheaper electric alternatives, we are going to see a big shift in the next 10 years.
Remote Working and Sustainability
Due to a certain event that took over the world in 2020, many businesses have realized that a huge amount of costs can be saved as well as CO2 emissions. According to the "State of Telecommuting" report, working from home has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an equivalent of 600,000 cars in the United States. With apps like Zoom and Microsoft Teams emerging, it has created a great dynamic in some ‘workplaces’ as employees don’t have to worry about running costs and can work comfortably from their own homes. Although businesses can save huge costs from not having a building space, some employees prefer the opposite. With energy bills, in the UK for example, rising extremely fast, they see that keeping the heat on in the house to work damages their costs more than driving. Although the heating in the house damages the environment to an extent, it doesn’t come close to the value of CO2 from commute traffic.
Renewable Energy Trends
With alternatives getting ever cheaper, people are switching to solar panels or heat pumps to lower their energy bills. Although there is an initial cost that looks intimidating, in the long run, your wallet will thank you. Installing a heat pump for example reduces your carbon emissions by around 80%, just imagine if every household had access to one. Although a heat pump, right now is more expensive to run, we are seeing a price decline to be more comparable to fossil fuel alternatives.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Sustainability
Sustainability isn't something that can be achieved overnight, but every positive change helps. Whether it's choosing cleaner transport, reducing waste or switching to more sustainable packaging, small decisions can make a real difference over time. As new technologies and greener alternatives become more widely available, it's becoming easier for businesses to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on quality or performance.
If you're looking to make your packaging more sustainable, explore our range of recycled mailing bags, packaging tapes, eco-friendly void fill and other eco-friendly packaging solutions to find the right fit for your business.
