Technology and sustainability imperatives are increasingly seen as inextricably linked.

In the modern world, the technological sector is an integral part of our lives. It has been a driving force in innovation and change for centuries. From its inception to this day, it has existed as a controversial entity that impacts everything from economics to entertainment.

Today, technology is affecting the way we live, communicate, work and play. It has come to play a major role in politics, business, and society at large. The impact of technology on society over the past few decades has been immense. 

Not only are people becoming more reliant on technology – meaning we spend more of our time sitting in front of screens as opposed to engaging with the world around us, but we are also increasingly reliant on technology for various aspects of our lives such as education and employment. As the technology sector grows so does its impact on society and sustainability becomes a growing concern.

The three pillars of sustainability

Creating a sustainable future requires changes to our social institutions. This is because sustaining people, the planet, and profit are dependent on how effectively they interact with one another, so changing any pillar impacts the others.

Sustainability practice usually recognizes three overarching areas where human activity can have an impact: economy, society, and environment. Each area has specific aspects that need attention for their development & long-term balance with each other. 

They are all interconnected with each other despite being independent areas of practice at the same time. These are called the three pillars of sustainability:

1) Economy – how to balance the production of goods & services with their consumption.

2) Society – how to balance economic growth with social progress, including issues such as human rights, environmental quality, healthy public policy, and international solidarity.

3) Environment – how to protect the biosphere while preserving opportunities for future generations by conserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and minimizing waste.

Graph that illustrates The three pillars of sustainability

Sustainability and impact: The role of technology

The two-fold Imperatives of Sustainability

There are two imperatives of sustainability that provide a useful framework for understanding the role of technology in society. They were first articulated by the Brundtland Commission in 1987 and are still relevant today:

1) The need to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

2) The need to achieve a balance between the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability.

The first imperative is about ensuring that we do not sacrifice the needs of future generations in order to meet our own needs now. This is about sustainable development, which is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The second imperative is about achieving a balance among the three dimensions of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.

  • Technology and the economy

In order to meet the first imperative, it is necessary to have a strong economy so that we can generate the wealth needed to fund sustainable initiatives. A strong economy is also necessary to create jobs and provide people with opportunities to improve their standard of living. In this way, the economy is a necessary but not sufficient condition for sustainable development.

  • Technology and the environment

The second imperative requires that we protect the environment so that we have the resources we need to meet our needs in the future. This includes conserving natural resources, reducing pollution, and minimizing waste. Technology can play an important role in achieving this by helping us to become more efficient in our use of resources. For example, technology can help us to reduce energy consumption or find alternative sources of energy that are more environmentally friendly.

  • Technology and society

The third pillar of sustainability, society, is about creating social progress. This includes issues such as human rights, environmental quality, healthy public policy, and international solidarity. Technology can help us to achieve social progress by making it easier for people to connect with each other and by helping us to share information more efficiently. For example, social media can be used to raise awareness about environmental issues or to promote human rights.

How has technology improved sustainability in various industries or sectors? 

Retail

The retail sector is a good example of how technology can be used to improve sustainability. Retailers have been using technology to track inventory and reduce waste for many years. In recent years, they have also been using RFID tags to track the movement of goods from the warehouse to the store and back again. This helps to ensure that products are not wasted due to over-stocking or out-of-stock situations.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is another sector that has been using technology to improve sustainability for many years. Manufacturers have been using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to help them to make products more efficiently. They have also been using lasers and robotics to reduce the amount of waste that is produced in the manufacturing process.

Healthcare

The healthcare sector is another example of a sector that is using technology to improve sustainability. Healthcare providers have been using electronic medical records (EMRs) to reduce the amount of paper that is used in the healthcare system. They have also been using telemedicine to provide care to patients who cannot travel to see a doctor. This helps to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare and makes it more affordable for patients.

Financial services

The financial services sector is another example of a sector that is using technology to improve sustainability. Financial institutions have been using online banking and mobile payments to reduce the amount of paper that is used in the banking system. They have also been using blockchain technology to create more efficient and secure systems for trading securities.

Looking ahead: the future of new Technologies and Sustainability

When it comes to technology and sustainability, there are countless potential applications and opportunities for improvement. In the future, we can expect to see more technologies being developed that are designed specifically to improve sustainability. We can also expect to see existing technologies being used in new and innovative ways to achieve sustainability goals.