2023 was a year of ups and downs for our environment. While 2023 was the warmest year ever recorded, it was also the year that world leaders at COP28 agreed to “transition away from fossil fuels” – the first explicit mention of fossil fuels in global climate agreement history.
July 2023 brought record-high temperatures, devastating floods across the U.S.
Credit: Getty Images
Additionally, worldwide investment in clean energy has grown by 40%, reaching an estimated 1.8 trillion USD in 2023. This means that the awareness for clean energy and how it helps build a greener economy is high. Companies are actively tracking their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and putting actions in place to tackle the environmental risks in their ecosystems.
As our society continues to prioritize sustainability, here are two trends that can’t be overlooked in the year ahead.
A shift to sustainable energy
The energy mix has shifted – and this trend continued in 2023. Changing consumer preferences have contributed to the growth of renewable energy. Solar panels, batteries, and heat storage systems have become more prevalent.
The surge in renewable energy generation also increases grid resiliency and has been helpful for less robust grids, like Texas enduring the extreme cold weather.
A trend we’re seeing is cities and transportation systems turning to sustainable solutions to reduce costs and alleviate the burden on the grid. ePaper displays do not need any power to retain an image and they are inherently low power, making them ideal, easy-to-install applications. It bridges the gap between the needs of energy-at-scale and smaller carbon footprints.
Credit: Grid Smarter Cities
Putting action behind the goals
Companies are laying out specific sustainability goals — and now, people expect to see what they’re doing to fulfill those commitments with tangible, real examples.
For E Ink, sustainability has always been at the core of how the company moves forward. E Ink’s emission targets and partnerships with global organizations such as the Climate Pledge demonstrate the company’s commitment to sustainability in the near- and long-term. It also highlights the importance for companies to leverage industry frameworks to continue to promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity.
E Ink joined the Climate Pledge (TCP) in 2022 to commit to becoming net-zero carbon by 2040 – the first display company to join TCP.
Credit: E Ink
For example, in 2022, E Ink achieved a 43% decrease in carbon emissions intensity and increased energy productivity by 108%. These results were supported by E Ink’s partners and customers across the globe to achieve RE100 and Net Zero goals.
In a previous blog, we talked about 2024 outlook for the signage industry including the growth of smart surfaces and how technology will be more deeply integrated in smart city infrastructures. What other trends do you foresee will take off in 2024?
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