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Humankind has always been driven by a desire to augment our natural abilities in order to better adapt to and control our environments. From the early primitive tools of the Stone Age to emotional reflecting sweaters and Google Glass, it has been a long ambitious road towards human, social and technological advancement.

We are now entering into an exciting new age of wearable technology, one of the most important eras in the history of computing. Technology is no longer just for our desks and pockets. It is now subtly displayed on our bodies and will one day even be merged with them.

In the next five years we will see the rapid development of wearable technology that is integrated into every aspects of our lives. Wearable technology will be used to help record the world around us, control our environment and communicate information between one another.

Much of the innovation will develop first through wristbands. As devices become smaller, faster and more feature packed, other jewelry like devices will follow - such as rings and necklaces. We will also see an influx in smart clothing within the next couple of years. It is predicted that by the year 2018, we will rely most heavily on embedded devices - technology that is physically embedded into our bodies. This is not a Stephen King novel, this is actually the future of wearable tech.

Connected Intimacy

Wearable technology is adding new layers to our personal relationships by extending the reach and power of how we communicate and share details about ourselves regardless of distance. They provide a continuous link between people, simulating closeness and changing the way we understand one another.

A great example of this is the T.Jacket, a hug simulation jacket which enables parents to calm their children via mobile devices. The jacket uses embedded air pockets to simulate hugs without human contact. Initially developed with autistic children in mind, the T.Jacket has an even wider application for parents who spend a lot of time away from home.

According to a study by the Centre for Creative and Social Technology, 36 percent of American wearable tech survey respondents said that they use wearable technology to enhance their love lives. Tactilu is a bracelet that is capable of transmitting touch between to people even when they are miles apart. While Bond is a smart watch that uses touch to save long distance relationships.

Physical and Emotional Mirrors

Another emerging trend that we see in wearable technology, is the use of embedded tracking devices which can be used to monitor the health and physical performance of users. For example, this tooth embedded sensor relays eating habits to your dentist. The device fits discreetly in between the wearer's teeth and can differentiate between eating, speaking, smoking, drinking and breathing.

This smart diaper detects health issues for babies and communicates them to parents via smartphone. By scanning the QR code on the diaper, the parent can check to see if the baby is suffering from at UTI, if the kidneys are healthy or if the child is dehydrated. It will even recommend if you should take the child to see a doctor.

However, wearables will not only be used to track physical health, but can also be used to reflect emotional health. For example, the Ger Mood Sweater by Sensoree interprets emotions and displays the wearer’s mood instantly as an interactive light display. Sensors in the clothing detect bodily rhythms along with excitement levels and translates the data into a palate of colors.

Empathic Wearables

The Doppel is an example of empathic technology. It is a bracelet that uses changes in rhythm to change your mood. The human body has a natural response to different types of rhythm. Whether it’s synching to the beat of a song, or to someone else’s heartbeat, these changes in rhythm affect us throughout the day. Doppel captures these rhythms in a wearable that emits a pulse on the inside of your wrist, emitting signals that no one else can see or hear.

Doppel can naturally make you feel more alert or relaxed on demand using the innate human response to rhythm. It’s designed to keep you alert for a long work day, or calm and relaxed in stressful situations. It works in the same manner as music, up-beat music energizes you while down-beat music has a calming effect. Doppel does this with a vibration you feel, rather than hear. You can use it to wind down to fall sleep, to keep going through that really long meeting or to stay calm when you’re nervous.

“The human machine is the most complex and powerful machine there is. Technology should not just monitor us, but actively help us to realize our potential” said the creators of the device, Team Turquoise. Their mission is to create a whole new market for wearables, bridging the gap between mindfulness, well-being and technology.

“We do not see the future of wearables as blinking lights and flashing screens, but rather a softer technology that works symbiotically with us, helping us to be the person we want to be.”

 

Photo Credit: Team Turquoise, Sensoree, T.Jacket

At this year’s Sustainable Brands conference in San Diego, we were challenged by Janssen Pharmaceuticals to ask leaders at the conference what the word "innovation" meant to them. Then, more specifically, we asked how innovation may or may not drive advancements in sustainability. We got a terrific range of responses which we've got documented in a series of short video interviews. You can follow along here.

In this video, Paulette Frank, VP of sustainability for Johnson & Johnson, explains how innovation helps the company deliver better products for consumers and how J&J brings the environment in as a "stakeholder" in the innovation process.

By Christen Graham

I received a preview recently of the United Nations’ global goals for 2030, slated to be formally unveiled at their Social Good Summit in September. Presented by U.N. Foundation’s Aaron Sherinian at the annual Cause Marketing Forum, he laid out 17 (wow!) global goals.

Many of the corporations in attendance, like CVS, Seventh Generation and AT&T, are working on a good number of them – and issued a call for us all to “lever up.” Here they are:

1. No Poverty


2. No Hunger


3. Good Health


4. Quality Education


5. Gender Equality


6. Clean Water and Sanitation


7. Modern Energy


8. Good Jobs and Economic Growth


9. Innovation and Infrastructure


10. Reduced Inequalities


11. Sustainable Cities and Communities


12. Responsible Consumption


13. Protect the Planet


14. Life Below Water


15. Life Above Water


16. Peace and Justice


17. Partnerships for the Future

Of course all businesses makes some kind of social impact, intentionally or not, positive or not. This list demonstrates (again) that a company’s social impact extends well beyond charitable giving and cause marketing, although those are excellent places to start.

Look inside and outside the four walls of your operations and think about the effect your business is having throughout the supply chain. Consider whether your business is practicing responsible consumption of water, as Pepsi and Coca Cola are doing now, or how it is performing on inequality vis-a-vis fair pay and executive diversity.

Companies that get it – Eileen Fisher, Unilever, IBM, Colgate Palmolive, Panera Bread and New Balance for instance – aren’t waiting to be regulated into thinking about these issues. These enterprises are working on all 17 in one way or another. And yet when asked what’s left to do, they will answer "still so much more."

Everyone is invited and eligible to participate in the Social Good Summit and can follow along at #2030NOW. And you don’t need to go to New York to benchmark the social impact your business has. Start a conversation with senior leadership to explore performance of these 17 points. The process will engage teams across the enterprise, connecting human resources, facilities and marketing. I guarantee (yes, guarantee) that once you do, your enterprise will make a greater positive social impact.

Christen Graham is President of Giving Strong, Inc. a global social impact consulting firm.

Businesses are finding it increasingly more difficult to implement and manage sustainability policies, according to research by the British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM).

The annual BIFM Sustainability Survey, this year in collaboration with Cambium and Acclaro Advisory, explores how UK organisations are approaching sustainability, what the key drivers and barriers to their sustainability policies are, and how they could be improved.

The survey, now in its ninth year, reveals a 20% decline in confidence among businesses in their ability to implement and manage their environmental, sustainability and CSR policies compared to 2014. Despite sustainability pledges featuring within all of the political manifestos this year, the response from business appears muted says the BIFM, with 40% of respondents saying they thought their organisation was ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ at implementing sustainability, compared to over half (60%) last year, and 43% in 2013.

The noticeable drop coincides with a reported increase in barriers to fulfilling sustainable practices. Physical constraints were highlighted by 80% of respondents, while financial constraints (71%) and a lack of organisational engagement (69%) were the next most commonly cited obstacles, requiring organisations to sharpen their focus and modify their sustainability strategies if they are to reap the benefits of long-term sustainable business practice.

The survey also found that over a third of respondents had no formal reporting system or data collection process when measuring effective sustainability outputs, resulting in a lack of evidence when it comes to building and reinforcing the business case of sustainability among leadership teams.

Gareth Tancred, ceo of BIFM commented: “Despite increased pressure on businesses to be more sustainable, we are actually seeing a decline in their ability to do so. What is clear from our findings is that organisations need to re-think their approach to sustainability in the face of increasing barriers. In nine years of conducting this survey, 2015 has seen the biggest year-on-year decrease recorded and historically, sustainability has been dominated by a tick-box mentality by business which is undermining the long-term value of sustainability investment.

“Whilst it is encouraging to see so many organisations regarding sustainability as an important part of their corporate agenda, businesses must adopt more formal processes to monitor and measure progress and avoid a short-termist view of sustainable business practice. What is needed to address the ‘sustainability crunch’ is more collaborative working, to look beyond purely environmental connotations such as energy consumption, climate change and waste management, and integrate policies aligned with societal sustainability, such as the Living Wage. The risk of not doing so is that organisations are accused of only paying lip service to sustainability.”

Download the full report here.

Lions and leopards at a big cat sanctuary are playing with ropes that just weeks before were being used to tie boats up on the Thames, in a new Port of London Authority (PLA) recycling initiative.

The recycling idea was launched as part of the PLA’s drive to make use of materials that would otherwise be thrown away.

Wildlife Heritage Foundation (WHF) collected the first two pallets of rope and lifting strops recently and they are now being used at the sanctuary’s ‘Enrichment’ enclosure as scratch posts, to keep cat claws sharp and their feline minds stimulated.

A 10-metre plastic pipe dumped in the Thames and salvaged by PLA staff will also be fashioned into play tunnels for meerkats at the WHF’s sister site in Hertfordshire.

PLA environment manager Tanya Ferry commented: “It’s really rewarding to know that something we’ve finished with has been given another lease of life. It helps reduce the waste we are producing, and cuts the Foundation’s spending on ropes, which can be expensive.”
 

This article is part of a series on “The ROI of Sustainability,” written with the support of MeterHero. MeterHero helps companies and organizations offset their water and energy footprints through consumer engagement. To follow along with the rest of the series, click here.

At Sustainable Brands 2015 we asked thought leaders to define the "ROI of Sustainability" in their words. In this video, Paul Herman of HIP Investor shares some thoughts:

https://youtu.be/tvGGck1FxCw

About Paul Herman:

R. Paul Herman created the HIP (Human Impact + Profit) methodology for entrepreneurs, companies and investors worldwide to realize how quantifiable sustainability can drive financial performance. Herman advises investors, designs HIP portfolios, and manages the HIP 100 Index -- all applying "The HIP Scorecard" featured in his 2010 book (The HIP Investor; Make Bigger Profits by Building a Better World; John Wiley & Sons), Fast Company magazine, business school curricula, and at www.HIPinvestor.com.

The case for renewables is clear: Evidence shows that, even when including production, maintenance and tear-down costs, wind and solar energy are still significantly greener, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), compared to fossil fuels. This is why news about growing solar and wind capacity in the United States and around the world is an unequivocal positive as we shift to a clean energy economy.

Of course that doesn't mean there aren't areas in which wind and solar could improve and become even more green. But to make clean energy greener, we need good, reliable data. That is what a new report published in the journal Energy Policy, entitled Assessing the Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Solar PV and Wind Energy: A Critical Meta-Survey, seeks to provide to renewable manufacturers and planners.

“[The report authors] examined more than 153 studies on the life-cycle CO2 emissions of a range of wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, and selected 41 for deeper analysis, allowing the scholars to better understand the emissions of current technologies as well as pinpoint where emissions occur and under what circumstances, and thus how they might be reduced. All the studies chosen for inclusion were peer-reviewed and more than 70 percent were published within the last five years,” the report reads.

Their findings were very interesting. For one things, the authors -- from Vermont Law School and Aarhus University -- found huge variation in GHG emissions. In wind farms, it ranged from 34.11 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour produced, to 364.8 grams, with solar seeing a similar rage (1 gram of CO2 to 218 grams CO2). This demonstrated a key point: While solar and wind are, in general, green, some technologies and methods are far more green than others.

Researchers also examined the various stages of a technology's lifespan, and found that the phase that could be most greened is what the authors called the “material cultivation and fabrication stage,” a fancy way of saying building and setting up. This alone was responsible for 71 percent of both solar and wind GHG emissions. A focused effort to bring this number down could really reduce the smaller, but significant, carbon footprint of renewable energy technologies.

Another key – building energy systems that last. The longer the lifespan of a wind or solar installation, the lower its GHG emissions. Thus, a greater up-front cost to build a more durable system could pay off huge carbon dividends in the long term.

“By spotlighting the lifecycle stages and physical characteristics of these technologies that are most responsible for emissions, improvements can be made to lower their carbon footprint,” the report concludes.

This is the right way forward. Let's not be satisfied with green for green's sake. Let's continue to study, gather data, and build better, more efficient, more carbon-neutral renewable energy systems.

Image Source: Pixabay

Many companies today are taking actions to improve their environmental footprint and their social impact under the banner of corporate social responsibility. In order to share these actions, many are publishing sustainability reports, targeted at raters, rankers, investors and analysts, as well as the general public. Each company’s story is a little different. Some companies, like raw material suppliers or airlines, use massive amounts of energy or other resources in their operations. Their reports typically describes their targets, efforts and accomplishments in improving their internal efficiency. Others, like carmakers, produce products that consume large quantities of non-renewable fuels. Their reports generally focus primarily on improvements in product efficiency.

Autodesk is a little bit different. As a global provider of computer-aided design (CAD) tools, it provides the means by which their customers can design both facilities and products that can operate more cleanly and efficiently with a significantly smaller footprint.

I spoke with Ben Thompson, Autodesk’s senior sustainable business program manager, on the occasion of the release of its 2015 Sustainability Report, entitled, "Sustainability in Action."

“Autodesk’s core opportunity, when it comes to sustainability, is through the enabling capabilities that we have and through the influence that we have,” says Thompson, who has been with Autodesk for six years.

Those capabilities and that influence largely come through the software in which it they are embedded, though it seems to show in just about everything the company does these days.

TriplePundit: How would you characterize this year’s sustainability report?

Ben Thompson: The Sustainability Report is really our greatest hits. We cover everything from our operations, what we’re doing there and what we hope for the private sector to do; highlights of our latest sustainability solutions and our sustainability solutions micro-site, which includes solutions for building designers, infrastructure engineers and manufacturers. Because this is the first year of our foundation, we’re also going into our philanthropic efforts. (Note: For more on the Autodesk Foundation, including their support of clean-tech startups, see our interview with Lynelle Cameron here.)

3p: I see in the report that you’ve made the commitment to power the business with 100 percent renewable energy. That’s great! How does that fit into your overall strategy?

BT: On that front, we really think that this is going to be a transformative year for climate action. We really wanted to demonstrate to policy makers leading into COP21 in December that the private sector is onboard with an internationally-binding commitment that limits global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius. This commitment that we’re making is just us, as representatives of the private sector, doubling down and hoping to get more of our peers onboard as well.

3p: Do you think we’ll see a commitment in Paris?

BT: We believe we’re going to get a commitment in Paris. But we’re really looking at what’s going to happen after Paris.

3p: Because that’s when your work really begins...

BT: When it comes down to it, we’re making the solutions, and providing the design tools, that are going to make these commitments achievable. That’s really what it comes down to for us. Our little footprint doesn’t matter much compared to how we can influence other footprints.

3p: The EPA has designated Scope 1-3 for different emission sources, but it doesn’t track the emissions of customers using tools like yours. Is that something you track or have thought about tracking?

BT: It is something we’re thinking about. But we’re not interested in taking credit for things that our customers are able to create or invent on their own. But we do want to better understand the type of impact that we’re having.

3p: Do you think we are evolving in how we look at companies and their sustainability efforts?

BT: Moving forward, in many cases, it’s going to be the handprint rather than footprint. How do you make sustainability part of your business? How do you make it a service offering? How do you provide it to customers, not only to sustain your own business with revenue from those services, but also to create better environmental and social outcomes for your customers? Our sustainability solutions group has done a really great job of making sustainability core to our service offering. So, it’s going to be more positive — not just making less bad, but making more good.

3p: What products and features are you offering today that embody that? Can you give some examples?

BT: Our RevIt building solution is a Building Information Modeling (BIM) app. It allows users to simulate proposed modifications and see the impact on performance. We are also starting to incorporate Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) into tools like Tally.Tally enables Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of materials used in buildings.

3p: What other accomplishments would you like to highlight in this year’s report?

BT: There is an infographic online that summarizes it. We hit our GHG reduction target of 27 percent right on the nose. Overall emissions from our facilities are down 65 percent over 2009. The science-based approach to emissions targeting called C-FACT, which we invented almost seven years ago, [not to be mistaken for the climate denial website CFACT.org] is getting really popular. [C-FACT enables companies to align their targets with goals from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, adjusted for GDP contribution, recalculated annually based on performance.]

3P: Last question: What is the thought that keeps you moving forward?

BT: If we’re trying to make a better world, how do we make a better Autodesk first? How do we get our business lined up right, how do we get our products, our employees doing more for sustainability?

Image courtesy of Autodesk

Tiny house communities have been gaining popularity in recent years, and it isn't hard to see why. The idea of being able to plunk down a house -- complete with a kitchen and basic amenities -- for less than the cost of a used car is almost irresistible.

I say almost because there's an obvious catch. You have to be able to live in a space that, in some cases, equals the square footage of a bedroom. You have to be frugal by nature, both in what you use and what you love. And it goes without saying that you have to be comfortable with yourself, and those with whom you share that miniature retreat at the back of your friend's yard.

But the tiny house industry is still booming. What initially began as a do-it-yourself construction project has morphed into a niche industry that is capable of supporting a single, independently-minded entrepreneur or the growing young family with a modest income.

Forty percent of unemployed workers were millennials in 2014. “That equates to 4.6 million unemployed millennials — 2 million long-term,” Marketwatch reports. And some 44 percent of college graduates that have managed to get jobs are employed in low-end positions with little hope of advancement. Most hold college degrees. So, places like Portland, Oregon, and Austin, Texas, where real estate is considered prime, are becoming favorite locations for that 500-square-foot mansion.

Research suggests that those states and cities that are experiencing the highest growth in tiny house communities are ones where either zoning and other bylaws are “tiny friendly,” or there are alternative settings in which to plant your house.

In Florida, some RV parks allow for tiny homes on an indefinite basis -- not really a surprise given Florida's reputation as a tourism destination. But most cities that have become niches for downsized homes are still trying to come to terms with the concept.

In Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, a city built at the foot of some of the province's most rugged mountains, the city bylaws had for years maintained a minimum width requirement of 15 feet for housing structures. In 2013, the city council admitted that with the increasing popularity of homes spanning as little as 10 feet in width, it would have to look at revising the bylaws. Nelson, like Vancouver, which is also wrestling with the concept of small versus million-dollar estates, has its own growing community of tiny aficionados that are working toward making tiny an accepted, sustainable concept.

With the ongoing growth of tiny house communities that can support and nurture a neighborhood in a quarter of the space of conventional communities, it's likely we'll see more of these miniature, less-conventional homes. If so, it will be interesting to see what adjunct industries spring from that growth, and their ability to meet the needs of an increasingly cost- and space-conscious consumer sector.

Image credits: 1) and 3) Tammy Strobel 2) Tomas Quinones 4) Nicolas Boullosa

By Nana Guar

When was the last time you read a truly interesting sustainability report? For many people working in corporate responsibility, the annual reporting process has become dull. The last 20 years has seen a massive explosion in the number of non-financial reports. But who actually reads them? What difference do they really make?

Sustainability reports, impact reports, corporate responsibility updates. Call them what you like. More and more organizations are producing them due to rising demands for transparency and accountability. Today, more than 10,000 companies produce some sort of account of their non-financial performance.

Many companies are also crying out for a more meaningful engagement with their stakeholders.  That’s easier said than done. Does anyone actually read these reports? And what difference do they make for the organizations producing them?

I recently completed some in-depth research for the organization I work for, Corporate Citizenship, looking at the trends, challenges and solutions to the perilous state that reporting finds itself in. We interviewed practitioners from across the world. Everyone seems to agree that too many reports simply fail to create value for companies producing them. Something needs to change.

Confusion breeds failure

Reporting has become confusing and overwhelming for many. What’s the aim of the report? Who is it designed for? How do you choose what content to include and what to leave out? What data should be used? Which standards should be followed? What format should you publish in? How should you engage audiences? How can the report be ‘brought to life’?  There’s a lot to consider.

Despite best efforts to make reporting engaging and relevant, frankly, for many companies the results are uninspiring. While practitioners recognize the importance of communication on sustainability performance, many find the reporting process challenging and often frustrating. The end result often fails to land the right messages with the right audiences, let alone create value and improvements for the reporting organization.

Is it all worth the effort?

It seems that for all the time and effort that goes into sustainability reporting, many organizations fail to extract maximum value. However, the growing number of reports suggest that the practice is here to stay. So, how can companies address these challenges and progress from dry, routine reports to more strategic and engaging communication?

Four key trends that are reshaping reporting emerged from our research. They point to some exciting opportunities ahead. These trends are evolving fast, and companies need to be aware and position themselves to take advantage of emerging opportunities if they want to get more value from the reporting process. We call these critical trends the Four Drivers of Change.

Four Drivers of Change

1. Strategic alignment: Closer alignment between sustainability and commercial decisions has become a business imperative.

There is a heightened awareness of the impact that responsible and sustainable business practices can have on financial performance. This is about much more than reputation. Companies are seeking to demonstrate that integrating sustainability into their business can help with cost-efficiencies, risk management, creative innovation and long-term growth.

2. Issues expansion: The scope and significance of issues are expanding across extended value chains.

There are mounting social, environmental, ethical and economic challenges for companies right across their extended value chains.  The scope of responsibilities has widened as companies are expected to be accountable for indirect impacts concerning their suppliers, distributors, contractors and business partners – on top of all the direct impacts the business already has.

3. Standards proliferation: There is a rapid proliferation of sustainability-related standards, rankings, ratings and indices.

These initiatives either offer guidance on reporting or rate companies’ performance based on set criteria. Each one serves a unique purpose and targets different audiences; but they sometimes have overlapping criteria or principles.

While responding to such initiatives is an opportunity to engage colleagues across the business, streamline data collection, and improve reporting and performance, making sense of it all can be overwhelming.

4. Digital innovation: Digital innovation offer new ways of presenting data and communicating with audiences.

Practitioners are increasingly facing demands for more data and narrative to a variety of audiences. This can result in lengthy, dry, technical reports that aren’t effective engagement tools. Innovations in digital platforms and social media allow companies to present data, narratives and impacts in ways that resonate with a variety of audiences; and audiences are able to interact, feedback and share opinions instantly. Technology-driven engagement also presents opportunities to connect with stakeholders across geographies, demographics, and varying interests in ground-breaking ways.

From routine to strategic

The dynamic, shifting landscape is causing headaches – but also throwing up some fascinating opportunities. Companies that are able to harness the Four Drivers of Change will create real value for the business and the audiences of its reporting. As reporting becomes increasingly interactive, innovative, and audience–led, the benefits will be most tangible for companies that are crystal clear about the first question: What is our objective?

Communicating about sustainability can be a minefield of nebulous jargon and opposing viewpoints. It is time for a re-think. We need to go back to basics and understand the reporting journey as well as the current trends that are creating pressures on the reporting process. Companies need to cut through the complexity and get back to shining a search light on what the company is actually doing and invite in friends and foes alike for a frank discussion about how they can do a better job. That would make reports a lot more interesting for everyone and more useful to businesses.

Image credit: Corporate Citizenship Inc.

Nana Guar is a Senior Consultant at Corporate Citizenship, a global management consultancy specializing in sustainability and corporate responsibility. She works with clients to identify their most material issues, define relevant performance metrics, and communicate their performance to a variety of audiences. When she is not immersed in sustainability reporting, reporting standards, CR strategy and implementation, Nana is applying her expertise to sustainability challenges in emerging markets.