2021 is looking to be a year of significant transition. As our behaviours have undergone considerable change, governments are providing financial stimulus to recharge their economies, and we are seeking to achieve climate goals and renewable energy targets. Here are 4 Sustainability trends for 2021.
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Increased Consumer Awareness
In the last 12 months, we have seen an increased emphasis on the social and environmental responsibility that individuals are demanding from the government and big business. Rubbish Removal Sydney is no longer about disposing of garbage and sending it to landfill. Consumers are continually holding businesses accountable for the ethical disposal of waste, and communities are growing around sustainable and circular economies. This means consumer consciousness is giving more weight to those companies, brands and governments that take social and environmental sustainability seriously. Big pushes towards zero waste has seen big business rethink product packaging and even product design to reduce waste and more specifically, plastic waste.
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Big Business Setting Even Bigger Goals
After many disruptions last year and ever-increasing pressure from stakeholders, companies and government are setting ambitious goals. Companies like IKEA and Microsoft cash back have not only set impressive goals but provided helpful resources for other companies wishing to follow the same path. Companies that don’t seek to improve their social and environmental practices will not only see their public image deteriorate but suffer financial consequences, as we have already seen with companies losing stock value and even CEO’s resigning. It’s now not enough for big business to be neutral in this area, they need to be proactively improving and aiming for bigger and better things.
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Investment in Renewable Energy Resilience and Accessibility
As Climate Change’s effects are becoming more evident every year, an increased focus on creating resilient and accessible electrical energy systems is evident. Substantial investment from both the U.S Biden administration and E.U in resilient energy projects over the next decade seeks to increase renewable energy reliability and infrastructure. Electrical grid resilience will also need to be boosted as we see a rise in the use of electric cars; by next year, there will be as many 500 models on the market and consumers demanding smart local energy solutions from their providers.
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New Technologies, New Sources of Financing
As governments and industries drive renewable energy industries, financial institutions and investors will look to capitalise on these trends and increase the scope of big business. As emergent practices are innovating traditional business models, large corporations are placing significant investment in green technologies looking to change our future.
