How Sustainable Digital Solutions Are Shaping the Future

Today, businesses face sustainability challenges in the modern world, trying to meet with sustainability claims, and reducing economic impact particularly through carbon footprints. For this reason, the concept of digital technology and sustainability has grown in popularity. 

There is an increasing intersection between digital transformation and sustainability for modern businesses and one area of this push toward sustainable digital solutions is digital signage.

The Role of Digital Technology in Sustainability

Today,  there are several options for digitalization for sustainability. Digital technology contributes to reducing environmental impact and helps drive sustainability.

In fact, some research suggests that 85% of consumers are prioritizing sustainability in how they consume products and what businesses they support. 

46% of people purchase sustainable products in order to reduce their personal impact on the environment, and consumers are willing to pay a 10% premium on products, knowing that the business is investing in sustainable practices.

Some surveys confirm that 10% of consumers make their purchasing decisions based on the level of carbon footprint that a company puts out. 16% of consumers say that having measurable levels of carbon footprint is a key part of what makes good companies sustainable.

Other reports indicate that 63% of Americans are willing to pay more money for products if they know that companies are having a positive impact on their environment, using sustainable products and practices.

To that end, it is becoming increasingly important for companies to pivot toward sustainable digital Solutions in order to maintain and expand their customer base.

Reduced Consumption

The push toward digitalization for sustainability helps reduce consumption for businesses. Organizations that turn toward digital technologies can streamline several business processes and reduce the reliance on physical resources.

For example, switching marketing material to digital signage instead of print material:

• Reduces energy consumption, 
• Reduces waste, 
• Reduces carbon emissions

For example:

An auto repair shop can streamline all of their marketing and advertising material as well as information for customers in a lobby by investing in digital signage. That same auto repair shop can reduce their carbon emissions, waste, and energy consumption, something that they can advertise on those same digital screens.

Resource Optimization

As companies make the switch toward sustainable digital solutions, they can also optimize available resources, reducing the reliance on long or otherwise expensive supply chains and helping to create circular economies that are more internal.

For example:

A small flower shop has trouble finding a reliable printer in their area, so they have to pay extra for shipping from a company over 60 miles away. This takes away from long-term goals of sustainability and economic footprint and makes it very expensive for the flower shop to promote sales on holidays like Mother's Day or Valentine's Day.

That same small business can save money and reduce their economic footprint by optimizing available resources, taking an existing television screen and converting it into a simple digital signage display where the same material can be displayed without having to pay for a printer 60 miles away. 

Energy Efficiency

As mentioned, focusing on digital transformation and sustainability helps businesses to achieve energy efficiency. Businesses can work toward a clean future by reducing energy consumption that goes into things like marketing materials and other internal processes.

For example:

A small grocery store can increase their energy efficiency by switching all of the display material to digital displays instead of paying the cost of designing, printing, and transporting paper marketing materials.

Digital Inclusion

Digital signage improves sustainability while at the same time providing equitable inclusion, ensuring that the material that is displayed is accessible regardless of things like:

• Disabilities
• Language
• Location 

For example:

A hotel can display information in multiple languages for the area, as well as converting business signs into videos with captions. That hotel can change the language for key hotel details like restaurant hours and check-in processes based on the clients who are checking in at any given time. 

How Digital Signage Improves Sustainability

So, how does digital signage improve sustainability for businesses? 

1. Digital signage offers sustainable digital solutions that reduce energy consumption. Digital signs use less energy than commercial signage, and relying on technology can reduce energy consumption by 80% or more than LCD screens.
2. Investing in digital signage provides energy efficiency by way of sensors that adjust brightness or through remote control features that can turn screens on or off when not in use. All of this reduces waste and saves on energy usage.

Digital signage solutions can contribute to sustainability across retail, corporate, and public spaces by reducing printing needs. Multiple messages can be displayed on a single sign without having to change or update printing.

For example:

A restaurant has a change in prices and a few menu items that are no longer available. Under normal circumstances, that restaurant would have to invest more money in wasted paper material printing out new menus, but the push toward digital technology and sustainability would allow them to update prices and items on a digital sign within seconds and push that real-time update without any additional paper waste.

A public space that provides services for local concerts, fundraisers, and other activities can invest in the longer lifespan of digital technology and sustainability with large outdoor digital displays. These digital displays can last ten years or more, which means they don't have to make replacements or generate paper waste each time there is a new event to advertise. Moreover, there is less manpower used to put up signs and take them down after each event. This saves public spaces and public enterprises significant tax dollars.

Conclusion

There is an increasing push toward digitalization for sustainability. Emerging digital technologies and trends will continue to shape the future of sustainability. It is imperative that businesses consider adopting digital sustainable solutions today to help meet these needs.

Consider how your business can embrace digital transformation with a focus on sustainability, reducing paper waste, enjoying longer lifespans, and increasing your energy efficiency.

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