We asked several Anthesis experts to comment on sustainability trends and topics that are emerging, changing and impacting businesses, cities and governments globally for our 2019 sustainability predictions series. In our sixth video, CSO Paul Crewe discusses the commercial criticality of sustainability. #AccordingtoAnthesis
What’s some big changes we’re going to see in 2019?
Sustainability will shape the face of business in 2019. Growing public consciousness of sustainability issues, coupled with political leadership gaps, will increasingly open the way for business to step up to the challenge of sustainability leadership, and either take the lead, adapt, or at worst, fail. No longer will major investors and shareholders treat sustainability as a ‘nice to have’ tick-box exercise, and we will see sustainability as a critical, commercial, social and environmental requirement that will have equal standing to the key success factors that drive both business and shareholder value.
What changes should businesses and consumers expect to see in 2019?
In 2019 packaging is set to be the key battleground in addressing the environmental impacts of plastics on oceans, land and in the air. As well as governments taking action, consumer awareness is heightened and businesses who fail to address these concerns will impact shoppers and they will undoubtedly choose to shop and vote with their feet.
What other topics are going to be important in 2019?
In 2019 the energy revolution will be well under way, and will continue to drive significant change both at municipal and generator level, but also within commercial businesses. [This will take place] through the adoption of decentralized energy generation technologies, including green gas combined heat and power [CHP], through to photovoltaic thermal, where both can produce locally renewable electricity, heat and even cooling that not only delivers a great return on investment, but also gives resiliency and mitigation against significant forecast increases to grid electricity over the years ahead. Couple this with smart battery storage, commercial digital technologies and control systems and we’ll see buildings carbon usage tumbling along with fuel bills too.
