Technology Innovation for Sustainable Development (2011-

present)

Meeting sustainable development goals will require

action on a number of fronts, including harnessing
and maximizing the potential of technological
innovation. Examples of such technologies include
carbon capture and storage systems, more
efficient irrigation methods, essential medicines,
household water purification devices, and
manufacturing processes that minimize waste and
pollution. While some needed innovations can be
fostered through existing public and private
mechanisms at the national level, such efforts have
proven inadequate to meet global sustainability
goals, particularly with regard to meeting the
needs of the world’s poorest, most vulnerable or
marginalized in current and future generations. Too
often, technologies are either not developed at all
for lack of a sufficiently profitable market, or if
developed, are not accessible or well-adapted to
end-user needs. This Program initiative seeks to
advance knowledge and understanding of how to
equitably improve the functioning of the “global
innovation system” for sustainable development
technologies. We are conducting a comparative
study of how well the system functions to meet five
sustainable development needs (food, energy,
health, manufactured goods, and water), with a
special focus on equity. The initiative is examining
specific cases of “system interventions” (e.g.,
policy interventions, institutional innovations, new
approaches to shaping the innovation process)
intended to strengthen the global innovation
system, with the broader aim of developing policy
recommendations that draw from, and are
generalizable across, multiple sectors. The findings
will contribute to realizing the potential of science
and technology to meet the most pressing
sustainable development challenges.

Innovation for sustainable development

Date:2014

Authors:

Damien Demailly

Raphaël Jozan 

Sanjivi Sundar,

Topics:

Innovation and technologies

Regions:

World

Dossiers:Innovation for sustainable development

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Article Index

Can the promises of emerging technologies be…

Beyond technological innovation, what socio…

Sustainable innovation - can it be designed?

Does sustainable development require policy…

Globalizing innovation

Conclusion

Countries and regions covered in this edition

Innovation has become the new buzzword across the globe. International
organizations, governments, corporates, academia and civil society see it as the
answer to major contemporary challenges. Societies and economies are under
pressure from a set of profound changes: economic transformation such as
globalization, new industrial geography, liberalization, commercialization and
privatization; political transformation such as the rise of a multipolar world and loss
of sovereignty of nation states; technological revolutions in informatics and
biotechnology; and global environmental change. All these processes interact in
complex ways and challenge the political, economic and social models of the 20th
century.

Innovations are occurring and alternative solutions to the existing problems are
emerging in all sectors. Electric cars, organic farming, renewable energy and e-
learning are good examples. They are growing as major programmes, supported by
governments and the private sector, often integrated into sustainable economic
development plans. These alternatives are also seen as green initiatives, and are
assigned virtues, such as being decentralized, frugal, flexible, smart and democratic,
qualities that are lacking in conventional models. They are also attributed with the
potential to meet the overall global challenges such as climate change and the
growth of inequalities between and within countries. Innovations and alternatives
are emerging not only in industrialized countries but also in developing countries.
In fact, the latter have emerged as leaders in certain technologies, such as China in
solar technology, and as pioneers in the development of revolutionary applications,
such as mobile banking in Kenya.

These emerging innovations and alternatives raise five major issues: (1) Should the
focus be on the technological dimension of innovation, including digital and green
technologies? What is their real potential? Would their rapid deployment lead
towards a more sustainable society? (2) What is the role of socio-economic and
policy innovations in promoting and supporting sustainable development and
interacting with the technological innovations? (3) Are the emerging alternatives
more sustainable and do they replace the conventional models or merely
interconnect and co-evolve with them? (4) What institutional changes are required
to promote innovation for sustainable development? How can public policy drive
change? (5) How should governments and corporates promote innovation and
widen the geography of innovation?

A Planet for Life 2014 aims to explore innovation in all its aspects, through a series
of texts written by international experts on innovation and its role in supporting
sustainable development. The objective of these texts is to analyse experiences
from across the world and the role of innovation in a variety of areas of
development such as urbanization, agriculture and food, the mobility of people and
freight, education and the provision of water and energy to all (Figure 1).

Can the promises of emerging

technologies be realized?
The early chapters of A Planet for Life question the promises of new technologies:
can 'green tech' usher in a new industrial revolution? Does digital technology create
a more inclusive and environmentally-friendly society? The authors oscillate
between optimism and pessimism, but seem to agree that innovation could either
benefit or be detrimental to ecosystems and society. Whether the former or the
latter outcome prevails will depend on how economic and social forces drive
individual and collective choices.

Is technology the cause of or the solution to the world's ecological and social
problems? The historian Grégory Quénet (Radar 4) points out that in Europe and
the United States, the ecological movement - whether intellectually, politically or
charitably focused - has been buffeted since its beginnings by its love-hate
relationship with technology. Beyond the ecological movement, all societies wonder
if technology will save them from environmental threats. The philosopher Alfred
Nordmann (Chapter 4) argues that society has renewed its faith in technological
progress. Many who live in the industrialized world no longer see technology as a
force for social progress, but as their last hope for solving environmental threats.
According to Nordmann, even this hope implies a certain naivety about the
technological and scientific promise of nanotechnology, life sciences and digital
solutions. He underscores a particularly important message: we must not become
'credulous believers'.

The authors in A Planet for Life try to avoid this problem of credulousness, as seen
in the work of Damien Demailly and Patrick Verley (Radar 1). Without denying the
crucial need to develop new energy technologies, such as renewables, their work
questions whether such technologies can radically change our economies and
generate growth equal to that driven by the steam engine or electricity. The earlier
innovations fundamentally reorganized the economy, particularly by allowing
factories to scale-up production. The authors note that so-called green technologies
do not create similar opportunities for restructurings: green electrons remain
electrons, green cars are still cars, and both rest on widespread twentieth-century
technologies, electricity and the automobile.

Carlota Perez (Chapter 1) emphasizes the importance of the digital revolution now
underway, because it goes beyond creating a few new industries. Taking a historical
perspective, she views new information and communication technologies as
powerful tools that can completely transform the economy and create what she
calls a 'new techno-economic paradigm' compatible with green manufacturing and
lifestyles. In sum, Carlota Perez argues that the world is ready for a new planetary
Golden Age.

On the other hand, Fabrice Flipo (Chapter 2) underscores the material impact of
these new technologies. He argues that computers, servers, devices and networks
consume energy and require rare earths and toxic materials for their construction.
Above all, they foster lifestyles and production systems that are far from
immaterial. New uses, which are 'lighter' in terms of resource use, complement
rather than replace those which have 'heavier' demands; videoconferencing does
not replace air travel so much as facilitate communication and trade, thereby
occasioning more flights in the long run. Although Flipo and Perez express
contrasting opinions about the sustainability of new information and
communication technology, they agree on its potential to be used for the benefit or
detriment of the planet.
Kevin Urama, Mariane Mensah and Warigia Bowman (Radar 2) shed light on Africa's
digital revolution, which is visible on every street corner and in nearly every village.
It is the source of great hope for faster economic growth, greater democratization
and more widespread development. While this revolution has had an impact on
banking, healthcare, agriculture and education, the three authors emphasize the
need for Africa to adopt and appropriate technologies and to ensure their universal
accessibility. They conclude that ensuring ICT access to all Africans requires the
building of physical, regulatory, political, commercial and social infrastructure. It
must rely on the ability of citizens to use the technology, to advance democracy,
participation, competency and transparency. This indeed is a major challenge.

Beyond technological innovation, what

socio-economic transformation is
required?
The history of industrial revolutions teaches us that technological revolutions drive
or accompany social and economic changes (Perez, Chapter 1). The automobile-
technology revolution in the United States, vastly disseminated with the advent of
Ford's Model T, brought about a new way of working, new infrastructure, and new
organizational principles that transformed the economy. The automobile revolution
also drove mass consumption and aspirations for the American way of life. If
humanity is serious about solving ecological and social challenges, innovations on
the scale of the industrial revolution must create pathways towards sustainable
development. This will require inventing and disseminating new technologies as
well as new urban forms, business models, agricultural practices, food habits,
lifestyles, and so forth. In short, innovation must occur in social and economic as
well as technological dimensions, as several chapters of A Planet for Life illustrate.

According to David Banister (Chapter 3), an expert in mobility, if the aim is to reduce
carbon-dioxide emissions enough to prevent climate warming of more than two
degrees centigrade, it will not suffice to simply increase the number of fuel-efficient
or electric cars in industrialized and developing countries. Instead, it will be
necessary to reduce travel demand. He explains that if we limit ourselves to purely
technological considerations when thinking about transportation options, we risk
becoming trapped on unsustainable development paths. Thus he calls for
rethinking the shape of cities, the geographic distribution of services and facilities,
and other factors that would support the adoption of a more sustainable and low
carbon pathway for mobility. This finding is echoed by Rajeswari S. Raina (Radar 3)
who argues that the purely technological approach of various green revolutions is
incapable of meeting the social and environmental challenges of India's agricultural
industry. She calls for broader engagement of farmers and all those involved in
scientifically-informed, ecologically, economically and socially sustainable
agroecosystems.

Olivier Coutard, Jonathan Rutherford and Daniel Florentin (Chapter 5), like
Stéphane Fournier and Marcelo Champredonde (Chapter 6) also argue that model
transformations should go beyond purely technological developments, whether it
be the supply of water and energy, or agriculture and food.

Anne-Sophie Novel (Radar 7) gives an example of a possible socio-economic

revolution: the emergence of a more collaborative economy, a sharing economy
facilitated by the digital revolution. Through the pooling of goods, by giving them a
second life, this 'new' economy enables the optimization of the use of physical and
economic capital and therefore holds the promise of green growth, although, as the
author notes, the evidence to support this idea has yet to emerge. 'Sharing', in
particular, illustrates the potential capacity for innovation in business models, with
a shift from the sale of goods to the provision of a service, and also in consumption
patterns. Alison Armstrong (Chapter 7) discusses consumption, listing innovations
and faint signs of movements toward a frugal lifestyle, such as the Transition
Networks communities or the Slow Living converts. Frugality discourages buying
goods and services and encourages shared production and consumption. The
author celebrates these status-quo-challenging initiatives while remaining
pessimistic about the scope of their adoption. Powerful psychological factors drive
hyperconsumerism, such as the pleasures of purchasing, strengthening a sense of
self, and differentiating oneself from others. In addition, individuals often think they
are greener than they really are. Armstrong nonetheless argues for public policies
that could encourage more sustainable consumption.
Sustainable innovation - can it be
designed?
How do these new technologies and alternatives emerge and spread across the
world? Several chapters concur in finding that they do not emerge from a
standardized or planned process, designed in vitro in a laboratory. Rather,
collectives of diverse, distributed, uncoordinated actors create a myriad of
innovative configurations in situ. Furthermore, new innovations do not merely
replace existing solutions; rather, dominant, traditional models 'confront' and
hybridize with supposedly more-sustainable alternatives.

Innovation cannot be viewed independently from competition. Various, often

competing alliances of actors champion each technology and model. In the case of
pursuing or abandoning ploughing in agriculture, Frédéric Goulet (Radar 6) tells us
that behind a 'unisonous discourse' and a 'displayed consensus on innovation' lies
intense competition that expresses itself through major controversies. He claims
that 'innovation is not only about uniting, associating, linking and creating
synergies: very often, as emphasized by Schumpeter (1911), it also involves
destroying, dividing and criticizing' in order to get rid of competitors and promote
one's interests and values.

Innovative and alternative systems articulate with existing ones, as Olivier Coutard,
Jonathan Rutherford and Daniel Florentin (Chapter 5) show through a comparative
analysis of the provision of water and power in three European cities. Woking,
Stockholm and Magdeburg followed very different paths when their centralized
electrical grids faced environmental, social and financial problems that challenged
the centralized model's supremacy. One path led to a wholly decentralized off-grid
model, while another revived a pre-grid approach, and the third rehabilitated the
centralized grid following the re-grid model. Depending on the city, questions of
innovation, sustainable development and the supply and use of infrastructure have
very distinct meanings. It has led to totally different links between the centralized
grid and alternative systems, even though those involved have made similar claims
regarding the 'greenness' and 'sustainability' of each model.
Stéphane Fournier and Marcello Champredonde (Chapter 6) also illustrate this
process of hybridization in the food-processing and agriculture industry. Producers
often sell their produce through different channels to diversify their income and
strategies. Consumers in turn look for diversified purchase sources, such as
supermarkets, farmers' markets and organic stores; and in the process they
enlarge their range of products. The conventional and alternative models evolve
together, constantly influencing each other. Alternative systems frequently turn into
conventional systems when, for example, producers intensify production, or
processors of agricultural products seek economies of scale. Conventional food
producers, processors and packagers often adopt alternative practices - organic
farming and fair trade, short supply chains, and so forth - making them part of the
retailing mainstream.

Alternative models are not necessarily more beneficial and sustainable than
conventional ones, in contrast to popular perception. The real strength and interest
of alternatives resides in their constant challenge to existing technologies, actors
and models, and the ways they change economies and societies. It is no longer
valid to think in terms of an eco-innovation machine that one can simply turn on; or
to put our faith in the emergence of miracle technologies and models that will
enable us to meet the looming challenges. The cases discussed in this volume
clearly show that innovation is far removed from a linear, unidirectional process,
created in a laboratory and marketed by large corporations. Instead innovations
occur in many different places, created by numerous, and not necessarily
coordinated, professionals and amateurs.

The rise of open innovation models recognizes the creative possibilities inherent in
co-operation and collaboration. Gaël Depoorter (Radar 8) recounts the history and
industrial links of shareware, a forerunner of the open movement. Selim Louafi and
Eric Welch (Chapter 8) provide valuable insight by describing different aspects of
the movement: open source, open access, open science, open data, and so forth.
Countering common wisdom, he explains how these collaborations are not
necessarily at odds with proprietary regimes based on strong intellectual property
rights, nor do they affirm a romantic vision of free access to knowledge and
technology. Collaborative arrangements can be quite complex, depending on the
industry and the resources exchanged. Although collaborative, such arrangements
do not empower all actors the same way: both Depoorter and Louafi insist that
certain conditions must be fulfilled for open systems to truly work for the benefit of
all.

Does sustainable development require

policy innovations?
Promoting innovation for sustainable development seems a Herculean task. Alfred
Nordmann (Chapter 4) warns us against the arrogant belief that we can fashion the
future in any way we choose. For public officials, the challenge lies in setting up the
multiple institutions and public policies needed to set the course toward
sustainable development.

Lucien Chabason (Chapter 9) reviews political innovations at three territorial scales:

national, regional and supranational. He uses France, the Mediterranean region
and the United Nations to show how public institutions have changed in order to
integrate sustainable development challenges, to invent more participatory
decision-making processes, and to adopt public-policy tools. His analysis leads to a
very fine reading of these attempts. For instance, he highlights how an ecologically-
oriented fiscal policy can innovate by aiming to influence behaviour. At the same
time, he underscores the political difficulties in implementing such a policy and calls
for the adoption of a more traditional policy mix. He reminds us that those who
influence and make policy must liaise with civic society and various stakeholders.

Irène Alvarez, Julien Calas and Ray Victurine (Radar 9) analyse a set of innovative
policies used to finance biodiversity. They include simple innovations, such as
ecotourism in nature reserves, and more complicated ones, such as conservation
trust funds or compensation. Such sources of funding provide relevant solutions to
the chronic underfunding that afflicts biodiversity preservation. The authors
emphasize the need to combine rather than substitute these innovations with
traditional public financing tools. The usefulness of the former goes beyond their
status as new sources of funding: they provide virtuous models for natural
resource use and management while involving a wide variety of actors - the true
challenge of sustainability.
Jon Marco Church (Chapter 10) examines innovation in terms of the governance of
sustainability challenges. He concludes, somewhat provocatively, that 'there is
nothing new under the sun'. Since the early 1990s, experts and decision-makers
have called for new institutions capable of taking a long-term view - promoting
international treaties, convening expert commissions, and animating public debate,
among other strategies. They have called, in short, for exactly the same kinds of
measures taken for decades on other issues. Despite a pervasive discourse about
expert and civil society participation, national governments will ultimately wield
sustainable development governance to affirm their power domestically and
internationally.

Some have presented the digital revolution as a means of rebalancing the power of
individuals in society and improving citizen access to the decision-making process.
Carole-Anne Sénit (Radar 10) notes that the Internet has multiplied the number of
innovative consultative practices. The most visible is citizen input to the United
Nations' post-2015 development agenda. Such examples raise hope that a more
inclusive and larger body of people will help design international policies, and that
better access to information will increase transparency. However, the author
cautions that most input comes from traditional civil-society organizations in
wealthy countries. Internet access requires major improvements before citizens
from all classes of society and all countries are able to provide input.

A historical analysis of sustainable development policy implementation helps us

understand the power of inertia. Bernard Barraqué and Rosa Formiga-Johnsson
(Chapter 11) describe the difficulty with which large Brazilian cities migrate from a
technological approach to water management (based on large-scale projects) to a
territorial one (favouring resource conservation and protection). While cities have
set up new institutions, they do not replace the existing institutions on which the
cities were built - vested interests and old institutions act as roadblocks to change.

Models and simulations have become de rigueur tools for integrating

environmental, economic and social challenges. Raphael Jozan (Radar 11) shows
the limits of such tools by studying watershed management around the Aral Sea:
the sophisticated tools rely on official statistics, provide a truncated view of the
economy, and are used exclusively by officials. In the case of the Aral Sea, the use
of models ultimately perpetuates the old solutions, namely major hydraulic
projects. The author's analysis reveals a fundamental challenge to changing the
current social and technological trajectory: how to encourage and accommodate a
plurality of experts and alternative forms of knowledge and counter-models.

Globalizing innovation
The final chapters of A Planet for Life 2014 put the spotlight on innovations in the
context of globalization and rising emerging economies.

Is the geography of innovation changing worldwide? Conventional wisdom holds

that 'the North innovates and the South copies', particularly when it comes to
technology. However, Navi Radjou (Chapter 12) counters that idea. He argues that
China, Brazil, India and Africa are emerging centres of innovation, propelled by
ever-increasing demand from their immense domestic markets and thousands of
indigenous entrepreneurs and companies. The author argues that the geography of
innovation is creating an opportunity for sustainable development worldwide. He
holds that emerging countries now pioneer a new approach: 'frugal innovation', or
maximum value creation at the least cost with the fewest resources. This approach
has already reconfigured some industries, such as pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
Frugal innovation is faster and cheaper than traditional innovation that is elitist and
non-inclusive. According to Radjou, the industrialized world could learn much from
this 'new paradigm'. Indeed, many Western companies have reworked their
research and development models within a globalized network of innovation that
extends to developing countries.

How can developing countries become a part of the globalized innovation network?
Through analysing national innovation systems in Brazil, Russia, China and South
Africa (BRICS), José Eduardo Cassiolato (Chapter 13) shows that BRICS governments
have indeed increased efforts to promote domestic innovation; the author analyses
their common strategies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly from
multinationals, to ensure technology transfers, to modernize manufacturing and
increase productivity. In the final analysis, attracting multinational companies and
FDI have had only a small impact on the BRICS' ability to innovate. Multinationals
enter emerging economies seeking benefits and tax breaks, chiefly cheap labour
and access to domestic markets. Some have established domestic research and
development centres, which usually adapt technologies conceived in developed
countries to meet their needs. The failure of FDI to make an impact on the capacity
to innovate in developing countries is also due to the weak absorption capacity of
domestic industry in these countries. Cassiolato argues that the BRICS must guide
foreign investment, ensuring that it ties into the local industrial fabric and benefits
domestic firms.

Building the absorptive capacity is not an easy task, as explained by Wei Zhao and
Joël Ruet (Chapter 14). They present a China that operates halfway between
imitation and indigenous innovation, despite huge efforts to promote domestic
innovation capacity. Since the 1980s, the Chinese government has led constant and
voluntary measures to encourage research and development and the expansion of
companies into high-tech industries. It has created all kinds of technology centres
and industrial parks. It has also financed laboratories, procured goods and services,
created a dedicated banking system, and obligated foreign companies to transfer
technology. China counts the highest number of professionals employed in
research and development activities in the world, but the centres and industries
remain siloed for the most part, and the favoured companies have gained market
share 'as distributors and sellers, not technology innovators'. China's brand of
capitalism shows major weaknesses in the rest of the private sector, which finds it
very hard to engage in innovation. Consequently, China has revised its innovation
strategy, targeting fewer technology sectors and aiming for better articulation
between scientific/technical institutions and private enterprise, particularly small
and medium-sized businesses.

In analysing India's national innovation system, Sunil Mani (Radar 13) sees a similar
situation. Domestic research and development capacity remains weak despite the
Indian government's relentless tax incentives and other efforts to boost investment
in domestic research and development. The author suggests that India faces
another major development challenge: an overconcentration of innovation capacity
in some sectors and regions. While India has successfully innovated in the IT,
pharmaceuticals and automobile manufacturing industries, other sectors, such as
agriculture or green technology, receive inadequate attention. The author also
observes two different worlds appearing in the one country: some regions, lacking
connections to the innovation economy, wither and grow poorer, while other
regions that are better integrated into globalization not only benefit from it but also
stand to gain from the pro-innovation public policies.

The caricature of a global south that can only copy is on its last legs, as Navi Radjou
claims. However, many developing countries still count on imitation for reliable
growth. John Mathews and Keun Lee (Radar 15) show that this leap-frogging
industrialization strategy is an old one: Germany pursued it in the nineteenth
century, and Japan and South Korea in the twentieth. Unfortunately for
sustainability concerns, the authors show that a 'wall of patents' may curb the
dissemination of environmentally-friendly technologies, such as solar energy and
light-emitting diodes.

Is the globalization of trade, particularly green goods and services, a boon for
sustainable development? Tancrède Voituriez and Xin Wang (Chapter 15) draw
lessons from the solar-energy trade war fought in 2013 by China and the European
Union. The Europeans threatened to slap import tariffs on Chinese photovoltaic
panels, accusing China - unconvincingly, in the authors' view - of dumping. The
authors question an idealized vision of globalization that perfectly combines
Europe's ability to invent things with China's low-cost manufacturing ability. The
looming threat is that China's control of solar-panel production could inhibit
research and development of next-generation technologies - in industrialized
countries in general, and in Europe in particular. The international community must
rise to the challenge of defining more conducive and better-coordinated trade rules
that support green technology innovation and dissemination.

Conclusion
Finally, we can gather the lessons learnt from this book into the five
aforementioned issues, to understand innovation for sustainable development.

(1) Although technology holds much promise in terms of sustainable development,

we should not be credulous believers in the power of technology. Technological
innovation is essential for sustainable development, but - like digital technology - its
transformational potential can be exploited for the benefit or the detriment of
ecosystems and societies.

(2) The articles highlight that innovation for sustainable development is not only
about making changes to technologies, and that innovation in technologies cannot
be separated from socio-economic developments. Innovating for sustainable
development must be understood and carried out within this broader context.

(3) Alternative solutions are not necessarily more sustainable than conventional
models. In any case, the alternatives do not develop by substitution and the
different models are interconnected, they co-evolve and lead to a myriad of
unprecedented socio-technical configurations. Alternative models challenge the
established models, and lead actors to significantly revise their business models, to
rethink the governance of infrastructure, territories and resources.

(4) Clearly, we do not have an eco-innovation machine that can be started at will.
Sustainable innovation cannot be imposed arbitrarily, and efforts to drive change
face multiple obstacles of a technical, political, financial and economic nature.

(5) While we may be witnessing the collapse of the myth that Northern countries
innovate and Southern ones copy, the reality of the geography of innovation is
always that of highly concentrated clusters that are mainly located in the North. In
developing countries, governments should have a much broader and integrated
vision that extends beyond the massive promotion ofR&D, or the attraction of FDI.
International organizations, governments, and corporates must recognize that
innovation is not developed within confined spaces, but instead arises in the field,
and should promote the establishment of collaborative open innovation models
that fully involve society. The challenge of innovation for sustainable development
is immense: it is nothing less than setting entire societies in motion.

Countries and regions covered in this

edition
21 Sustainability Innovations
and Initiatives That Might Just
Change the World
The world has to change if it's to survive. Here are some of the most
interesting sustainable innovations and initiatives that could save the planet.

By  Saoirse Kerrigan

April 06, 2018

1, 2

There's never been a greater push for sustainable products and technologies than there is
today. We've reached a critical point with regards to climate change, and many
innovators and businesses are stepping up to the plate to build a green future.

Here are just some of the incredible break-throughs and initiatives that could change the
world as we know it, and pave the way for a more sustainable way of living.

1. The Smog Free Project: Jewellery Made From

Air Pollution
Daan Roosegaarde is the mastermind behind the world's first smog vacuum cleaner. The
Smog Free Tower measures almost 23 feet high (7 meters) and sucks in polluted air,
cleaning it through a process of ionization before releasing it again.

Thanks to Roosegaarde's design, you can even wear rings made from smog. By buying
and wearing a Smog Free Ring, you're contributing over 10,700 square feet (1000 square
meters) of clean air.
  TOP ARTICLES5/5How Engineers Find Jobs in San Francisco
Source:  Bic/Wikimedia Commons

2. Zéphyr Solar: Bringing Electricity to Disaster

Zones
Zéphyr is a photovoltaic balloon and eco-friendly generator created by Karen Assaraf,
Julie Dautel, and Cédric Tomissi. The balloon only requires water in order to inflate and
can capture solar energy from as high as 165 feet (50 meters) in the air.

The balloon is connected by a cable to a base, where the energy is stored. Its creators
hope that it will bring power to areas struck by natural disasters.
Source:  melvil/Wikimedia Commons

3. The Green Building Initiative: Building Homes

and Reducing Emissions
The Green Building Initiative (GBI) is an international effort towards creating
sustainable, resource-efficient buildings. They offer a certification program for
commercial buildings who adhere to their environmentally-friendly vision.

Their goal is to establish a standard of best practices for green buildings globally, as well
as providing third-party assessment tools for sustainability requirements.
 Source:  TonyTheTiger/Wikimedia Commons

4. B-Droid: Buzzing Toward a Brighter Future

B-Droid is just one of a few efforts to create robotic bees that can pollinate crops as
effectively as their organic counterparts. B-Droid's mission is to help boost the natural
bee population, by giving low-nutritional and high-labor pollination tasks to robotic bees.

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Created by researchers at the University of Warsaw, B'Droid's vision consists of a

managing platform and swarms of autonomous and semi-autonomous robots, who would
have the ability to identify and pollinate crops effectively.

Source:  ForestWander/Wikimedia Commons

5. Groasis Waterboxx: Bringing Life to the Desert
The Groasis Waterboxx was created by Dutch flower exporter, Pieter Hoff. The Groasis
is a planting device that makes growing crops in the desert possible, and resource-
efficient.

It consists of an "intelligent bucket" made from recycled paper, which can germinate
seeds, incubate saplings, and water plants. It requires 90% less water than traditional
growing methods and can be used in some of the most extreme climates on Earth.

Source:  NASA/Bill White/Wikimedia Commons

6. Supermarket Herb Gardens: Less Waste, Better
Taste
Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn introduced in-store herb gardens in 2017, to
combat waste and give customers the freshest possible produce. The initiative was
developed in collaboration with design agency, studiomfd.

The herbs are grown to maturity off-site, before being transported to stores. Customers
can then cut as many sprigs of the herbs as they need, without buying pre-packaged
sprigs. It's a simple and effective way to cut down on plastic packaging.

Source:  Jaskarn.dhatt/Wikimedia Commons

7. AirCarbon: A Sustainable Plastic For the Future
AirCarbon was developed by Newlight Technologies, and has already won many awards
for its innovative sustainability. It's made from carbon emissions that would otherwise be
released into the air, and can have a multitude of uses.

It's a verified carbon-negative material, meaning every step of its production and use is
fully green and sustainable. Because it is not made from oil like other plastics, it is also a
cost-effective alternative to other synthetic materials.

Source:  Pixabay
8. Desso Airmaster: Carpet That Cleans the Air
Desso Airmaster is an innovative carpet brand that can purify the air in your home,
office, or school. It captures dust and other pollutants, leaving the indoor air clean and
fresh.

The benefits of Desso's design are self-evident. Improved air quality can have an
enormous positive effect on health and well-being. As it uses no power to function, Desso
carpetings are an energy-efficient way of maintaining clean air indoors.

Source:  Pixabay
9. ENGIE Insight: Resources for a Sustainable
World
Formerly known as Ecova, ENGIE Insight is a sustainable resource management
initiative that works with businesses to reduce environmental impacts. They provide
technology and experts to help businesses with their goal of becoming more sustainable,
and reducing their carbon footprint.

To date, they've worked with AMTRAK, GameStop, and others to create resource-
efficient business practices that don't harm the environment.

Source:  Engie
10. Demetra: Reducing Food Waste Organically
Created by Italian start-up Green Code, Demetra is an all-natural treatment for food
preservation. It's made from 100% plant extracts and can improve the shelf life of natural
produce.

Thanks to Demetra, produce would no longer require to be kept at cold temperatures

while in transit, saving a lot of energy. The produce itself could also stay fresh and ripe
longer, effectively reducing food waste in supermarkets and groceries.

Source:  McKay Savage/Wikimedia Commons

11. The Seabin: Cleaning the Oceans Safely
The Seabin was invented by Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski, two surfers who wanted
to clean up the world's oceans. The Seabin can gather plastic, detergents, and oil,
allowing clean water to filter through its structure.

Inside the bin is a catch bag, which traps any floating pollutants. A submersible water
pump sucks water through the bin, passing it out again once it has been cleaned. It only
needs to be emptied once a month and could make a huge impact on water pollution
worldwide.

Source:  Pixabay
12. S.Café: Fabric Recycled from Coffee Grounds
S. Café has created a method of transforming coffee grounds into wearable textiles, that
are more energy efficient and faster to produce than traditional natural fibers.

Their patented yarn dries 200% faster than cotton and can be produced with low
temperatures and little energy. In addition to this, the yarn naturally absorbs odors and
reflects UV rays, thanks to its unique micro-pores.

Source:  Pixabay
13. Sundrop Farms: Energy Efficient Agriculture
Sundrop Farms are known for cultivating a set of agricultural technologies that require
fewer finite resources than traditional farming. Their eco-friendly greenhouse operations
depend on concentrated solar power and thermal desalination.

Their farm in Port Augusta, South Australia is irrigated with water drawn from Spencer
Gulf, which is desalinated before being used to feed the crops. This desalination process,
along with other operations on the farm, is entirely powered by concentrated solar power.

Source:  Mansouraboud68/Wikimedia Commons

14. The Veganbottle: An All-Natural Alternative to
Plastic Bottles
Created by LYSPACKAGING, the Veganbottle is made from an all-natural bioplastic
that could replace plastic bottles forever. Everything in the Veganbottle, from the cap to
the wrapper, is made from 100% biodegradable materials.

The bottle is made from sugar cane extracts. Sugar cane requires far less water than other
crops, and the manufacturing of the bottle itself depends on little energy. 

Source:  Pixabay
15. PowWow Energy: Save Water and Money With
This Innovative App
PowWow Energy is an app that messages farmers when there's an issue with their
irrigation system. They offer two products - a Pump Monitor to reduce water waste, and
an Irrigation Advisor to ensure the best possible crop yield.

Their products allow farmers to monitor their own data when it comes to water usage,
and identify pipe leaks or breakages immediately. Users only receive messages from the
app when there's an issue, allowing them to efficiently avoid waste and get the most out
of the crops.
Source:  Longhair/Wikimedia Commons

16. Eka 1 and Eka 2 Seeds: A Proposed Solution

to Deforestation
Palm oil production has long been linked to widespread deforestation, as huge areas of
rainforest are cleared in order to cultivate the product. However, thanks to new seeds
developed by Golden Agri-Resources, this might no longer be the case.

The new seeds, known as Eka 1 and Eka 2, could produce up to three times the amount of
oil than the current industry average. The modified seeds would also mature faster, and
would be less susceptible to drought and disease.
Source:  oneVillage Initiative/Wikimedia Commons

17. CloudFisher: Converting Fog Into Drinking

Water
Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal or mountainous
areas to convert fog into safe drinking water. This water can also be used to irrigate crops
or forestry efforts.

It's made from a 3D mesh that can withstand high wind speeds, while still retaining
water. It comes in a variety of sizes, to suit individual needs or the needs of entire
villages.
Source:  Pixabay

18. Fairphone: The World's First Ethical

Smartphone
Fairphone is a modular smartphone designed with fair work practices and recycling in
mind. To combat the growing waste caused by discharged electronic goods, Fairphone
created a long-lasting smartphone that can be easily repaired.

Rather than replacing the entire phone if part of it breaks, Fairphone allows you to simply
replace the broken module. Everything from the battery to the audio jack can be replaced,
meaning fewer phones will end up in landfills.
Source:  Fairphone/Wikimedia Commons

19. Waitrose Delivery Vans: Vans Fuelled by Food

Waste
Last year, British supermarket chain Waitrose introduced a new fleet of eco-friendly
delivery vans. The vans run on biomethane, a sustainable green alternative to fossil fuels.

Delivery vehicles are responsible for high levels of carbon emissions, and finding green
alternatives to current delivery systems is crucial. Vans like the ones used by Waitrose
could be a game-changer for delivery fleets across the world.
Source:  Basher Eyre/Wikimedia Commons

20. Bakey's: A Delicious Way to Replace Plastic

Cutlery
Created by Narayana Peesapaty, Bakey's are a green alternative to plastic cutlery. Plastic
cutlery cannot be recycled, and thus results in great amounts of waste every year.

Bakey's is a brand of edible cutlery, which come in three different flavors: plain, sweet,
and savory. They're 100% natural, vegan, and will biodegrade if not eaten.
Source:  Pixabay

21. Outerwall EcoATM: Get Cash For Your Old

Electronics
Discarded electronic products account for huge amounts of waste, and recycling efforts
are ramping up to encourage people against throwing away their old gadgets. One
initiative is the EcoATM - a machine that gives you cash in exchange for your discarded
devices.

RELATED: HOW TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE MEGACITIES OF THE

FUTURE?

All you have to do is bring your device to an EcoATM kiosk where it is evaluated and
valued, and you get to walk away with cash! A great incentive for staying green.
Source:  Michael Rivera/Wikimedia Commons