Nachhaltigkeit

With a world population of ten billion people by the middle of the 21st century, natural resources must be used sustainably to prevent environmental disasters and wars. Traditional concepts such as recycling alone are no longer sufficient. Instead, we must think in terms of material cycles and transform the traditional production economy into a circular economy. To achieve this, a close link between production and recycling must be established, which is hardly conceivable without digitalization. This article begins with an overview of steps of industrial development towards more sustainability, finally showing how the digital transformation can facilitate the realization of a circular economy.

Digitalization and sustainability have dominated the media in recent years, but they are rarely thought of together. However, since digitalization poses considerable risks to climate targets due to its high consumption of energy and resources, it is necessary to take measures to make it sustainable and to make good use of its potential, such as increased efficiency. Therefore, Svenja Schulze of the federal environment ministry presented the “Digitalagenda”, which contains 72 measures. In this article, four measures are highlighted and their consequences for companies are worked out.

Blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (BC/DLT) have attracted social and scientific attention at least since the success of Bitcoin and Ethereum as so-called cryptocurrencies. This attention leads to multidisciplinary dynamics whose euphoria often leads to a neglect of scientific thoroughness. As one facet, immutability is a core characteristic and often postulated property of the system. However, it is hardly possible to identify an analysis of the counter side, namely the sustainability of this technology. This article deals with different aspects of the sustainability of BC/DLT and relates them to the requirements of BC/DLT.

Data is considered “new gold” or “oil of the 21st century”. Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on it enable us to optimize existing processes in companies and to develop new, disruptive business models. Technological innovations benefit consumers, businesses, society and the environment. But the undisputed benefits and opportunities of digitization are related to risks of misuse of data, ethical issues and the risk of rebound effects. The increasing global interconnectedness of the economy makes nation-state regulations impossible. Companies are therefore called upon to make digitization sustainable right from the start on the basis of a voluntary commitment.