What is digital sustainability?

Farmed Here builds high-tech hydroponic farms run by software
Farmed Here builds high-tech hydroponic farms run by software. Digital sustainability helps make food, fuel and the home more sustainable

Digital sustainability refers to the use of digital technologies that can have a positive impact on the environment. While most startup founders just want to cut a fast back, like those in advertising, the trend has just started with the success rate for digital sustainability initiatives sitting at only 4%.

The number is expected to grow to 35% in the next few years. This is because millennials and a global interest in digital sustainability is growing: environmental concerns and impact now drive many consumers’ buying decisions.

One study in the US found that 70% of US consumers consider sustainability when making a purchasing decision. And about 88% would be more loyal to a brand that implements sustainable practices.

The GreenTech Meta Trend

Digital sustainability is part of the GreenTech meta trend IoT, driven by AI, machine learning and cloud computing driving this growth. GreenTech can include smart agriculture such as hydroponic farms, fleet monitoring apps to cut down on corporate fuel or new advances in hydrogen. Greentech can also be solutions that consumers can buy like solar panels to programmable smart thermostats like Nest. Software and a digital interface is typically needed for all new devices and advances. 

nest labs google
The Nest smart thermostat, owned by Google

The primary goal of greentech is to reduce the negative impacts humans impose upon the planet, like plastic pollution in the ocean, fossil fuel use (greenhouse gas emissions) and deforestation.

This market is wide and encompasses many industries and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 27.2% through 2028. According to the research firm McKinsey, AI is “green” and can be used to reduce food waste globally, saving organizations $123B a year by 2030.

Some links in this article may point to affiliate links to earn revenue to run this site. These are products we have chosen and endorse.

 

TRENDING

Renewables hit 5,149 GW in 2025 as the world edges away from oil shocks and fossil-fueled conflict

“In the midst of uncertain time, renewable energy remains consistent and steadfast in its expansion,” said Francesco La Camera, IRENA’s Director-General. “A more decentralised energy system, with a growing share of renewables and more market players, is structurally more resilient.”

What Is Liberty HealthShare, and Should I Learn More?

Health insurance is a regulated financial product. Insurers operate under binding contracts, overseen by state insurance commissioners, that legally obligate them to pay claims meeting policy terms. Policyholders who believe a covered claim was wrongfully denied have legal recourse through state regulatory channels.

Zentera drops “ethical wool” claim after peta exposé into zq-certified farms

The New Zealand Merino Company, now rebranded as Zentera, has quietly removed the phrase “world’s leading ethical wool brand” from its website, a notable change that comes after a disturbing investigation by PETA Asia-Pacific into the company’s ZQ-certified wool supply chain, PETA reports to Green Prophet.

Fresh Fava Bean Soup, A Vegan Springtime Recipe

Somehow vegetables with short seasons excite the imagination and appetite more sharply than produce that’s available all year around. Good Middle Eastern cooks have many recipes for delicate fava beans, and this turmeric-fragrant soup is one.

The future of trucking and freight is electric and hydrogen

For years the freight industry tried to force a...

Nobul’s Regan McGee on Shareholder Value: “Complacency Is the Silent Killer” 

Why the governance framework designed to protect shareholders so...

Should You Invest in the Private Market?

startustartup Unlike public stock exchanges, which offer daily trading, strict...

How to build a 100-year-company

Kongō Gumi is a Japanese construction company, purportedly founded in 578 A.D., making it the world's oldest documented company. What can we learn about building sustainable businesses from them?

From Pilot Plant to Global Stage: How Aduro Clean Technologies’ 2026 Expansion Signals a Turning Point for Chemical Recycling Investors Like Yazan Al Homsi

The company's Next Generation Process (NGP) Pilot Plant in London, Ontario, has officially moved into initial operating campaigns, generating the kind of structured, repeatable data that separates laboratory promise from commercial viability.

How AI Helps SaaS Companies Reduce Repetitive Customer Support Work

SaaS products are designed for large numbers of users with different levels of experience, and also in renewable energy.

Pulling Water from the Air

Faced with water shortage in Amman, Laurie digs up...

Turning Your Energy Consultancy into an LLC: 4 Legal Steps for Founders in Texas

If you are starting a renewable energy business in Texas, learn how to start an LLC by the books.

Tracking the Impacts of a Hydroelectric Dam Along the Tigris River

For the next two months, I'll be taking a break from my usual Green Prophet posts to report on a transnational environmental issue: the Ilısu Dam currently under construction in Turkey, and the ways it will transform life along the Tigris River.

Related Articles

Popular Categories