Fairphone is one of the 100 innovations identified in Sustainia100.

An ethical smartphone, air cleaning carpets and carbon-negative plastic.

Today, Scandinavian think tank Sustainia releases a study on 100 leading sustainability innovations deployed on global markets.

The study, Sustainia100, is documenting a growing diversity in sustainability innovations globally, which is providing businesses with new market opportunities. More than 900 technologies and projects on nearly all continents have been researched to identify where and how innovations are being developed, deployed and put to scale.

“Sustainable innovation is truly broadening out these years. We are seeing how corporations are rapidly innovating and deploying new energy and resource-optimizing solutions. With this development, companies will lack behind if they do not gear towards a changed landscape, where an efficient and sustainable operation is key to long-term survival,“ says Laura Storm, Director of Sustainia.

The released study, Sustainia100, covers new efforts to turn the fashion and food industries, homes, offices and transportation systems more efficient and sustainable. All identified innovations are readily available with demonstrated environmental, social and economic effects. The 100 selections are currently deployed in 142 countries.

“While we don't have the luxury of time to fix the problem of unsustainable development, we do have a wealth of readily available solutions. And with Sustainia100, we now know where to find the most inspiring of them,” says Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Circular economy, data analytics and improved supply chains

The published Sustainia100 cases present state-of-the-art innovation across 10 industries. The data is showing three strong drivers among the market-ready innovation: circular economy products, data analytic services and improved sustainability practices throughout the supply chain.

“We are seeing how especially the circular economy is a growing focus area. Companies re-think consumption, waste, materials and return-systems at impressive scale. The global pressure on our natural resources has led to increased resource scarcity, which calls upon industries to transform their way of operating. Clever use of materials is a key innovation driver,” says Laura Storm, Director of Sustainia.

The study of 100 leading sustainability innovations are released today in Oslo, Norway, and available online. Behind the study is an alliance of private companies and international organizations including: UN Global Compact, WWF, Regions20, Monday Morning Global Institute, IFHP, Novo Nordisk, Brunata, DNV GL and Realdania.

RESOURCES
The full Sustainia100 publication with 100 selection cases available here: www.sustainia.me/solutions.

WHAT IS SUSTAINIA100?
SUSTAINIA100 is an annual guide to 100 innovative sustainability solutions from around the world. The guide identifies readily available projects, initiatives and technologies at the forefront of sustainable innovation. This year, Sustainia’s research team and advisory board screened a pool of +900 nominated solutions from which the final 100 solutions were selected. SUSTAINIA100 gives investors, business leaders, policy makers and consumers insights into promising solutions within their respective fields. These vetted projects and technologies span from Western innovation hubs to emerging economies. The 2014 SUSTAINIA100 guide, released on June 16 in Oslo, is the third edition. sustainia.me | @Sustainia

Sustainia

Sustainia

Sustainia is a Nordic sustainability think tank working to secure deployment of sustainable solutions that improves quality of life in communities around the world. Based on tangible know-how and technologies, Sustainia demonstrates the sustainable future we could achieve if existing solutions were implemented on a large scale.

More from Sustainia