AI for Business Sustainability: Achieving SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production

Businesses nowadays have an important role to play in keeping the environment safe. It’s not enough to just sell a product or service — sustainability is now at the forefront of everyone’s minds. If we don’t learn how to integrate sustainability into different business processes, then we risk having other aspects of our lives negatively affected.

One of the many ways technology has brought about change in consumption and production is through Artificial Intelligence (AI). Now while there is some worry surrounding using AI for businesses and its effects on the environment in general, there are different ways AI can be used to boost sustainability efforts.

1. Optimized Energy Use

Energy use is at the back of every production process. Think of how much energy, electricity, and water are used to make different products and even behind providing certain services. With AI, businesses can learn how to optimize energy use so that they can lessen their environmental impact as well as save on overall costs.

AI has become so powerful in recent years that it can continuously learn how a business uses power so that it can provide data-driven energy optimization strategies. These tools become very helpful in providing actionable insights on how to effectively target energy-saving opportunities.

2. Improved Resource Efficiency

Our resources are limited, and many businesses must recognize this when creating products and services. Even if the current situation makes it look like there is an endless supply of resources available, they will eventually dwindle if not managed sustainably.

This is where AI comes in and makes a difference. AI is a great tool for businesses to learn how to streamline their supply chain . Businesses can work with AI to see any areas of improvement when it comes to their consumption and emissions.

Information from AI models can help businesses learn more about how they can design products more sustainably. This technology has generative design algorithms that help create more innovative product designs. It’s a way businesses can ensure that they maximize functionality while minimizing material use.

3. Real-Time Tracking for Sustainability Incentives

Sustainability initiatives have various benefits for businesses, and one of those benefits is the incentives that come with the practice. But with several businesses taking part in these sustainability initiatives, it can be difficult to track which ones deserve the proper incentives and which ones don’t.

AI can help address this challenge by providing real-time insights into emissions , allowing businesses to accurately track their carbon footprint and assess compliance with environmental regulations. By monitoring emissions in real time, companies can better understand their environmental impact and stay aligned with sustainability standards. This efficiency not only streamlines tracking but also opens the door to maximizing opportunities for carbon credits and other regulatory incentives.

Aside from making tracking more efficient, using AI, in this case, can even encourage businesses to prioritize environmental sustainability. When they see the improvements in tracking incentives, they can be motivated to do their part since they know they’ll get the proper incentives to continue eco-friendly efforts.

As tax season approaches, AI’s ability to automate the tracking of emissions, tax obligations, and regulatory compliance enhances business preparedness. This not only ensures greater efficiency during tax time but also helps businesses capitalize on tax incentives linked to their sustainability practices.

4. Better Consumer Insights for Green Marketing

For many businesses, it’s not enough to practice responsible consumption and production. At the end of the day, businesses aim to profit from their products and services. As such, they need to market their offerings and show customers why they’re an eco-friendly choice compared to other competitors in the market.

AI becomes of great help for businesses who want to improve their green marketing initiatives. The tool can help in generating ideas that appeal to customers so that they will be more enthusiastic to try out a certain product or service.

AI has different features, such as customer sentiment analysis and behavioral analytics. These features really look into what customers like and dislike so that businesses can make adjustments accordingly. When businesses learn more about their customers, they can easily customize their marketing campaigns to fit what they’re looking for. In the long run, this offers more business opportunities and success for the company.

5. Employee Engagement

What is a sustainable business if the employees are not in on it? Employee engagement is a must for businesses to start their sustainability initiatives and maintain them. With good engagement from everyone in the company, there is a high chance that sustainability becomes something that is inherent and not forced.

With AI, businesses can provide sustainability training programs that fit every employee’s role and learning style. The technology makes it easier to tweak workshops so that they become more relevant and engaging.

AI can also help businesses create dashboards that provide information on how sustainability efforts are performing and progressing. These dashboards can highlight individual or team contributions. It’s a way to help employees be more likely to stay engaged since they see tangible results and understand their impact.

The Bottom Line

AI has become a powerful tool for businesses to achieve SDG 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production. It offers several sustainable solutions that help businesses reduce their environmental impact and improve their efficiency.

Through harnessing some of AI’s benefits as outlined above, businesses can position themselves as leaders in a world where sustainability is becoming increasingly important. With the right tools and strategies, AI can transform sustainability from a challenge into an opportunity for growth and innovation.

Bash Sarmiento is a writer and an educator from Manila. He writes laconic pieces in the education, lifestyle, and health realms. His academic background and extensive experience in teaching, textbook evaluation, business management, and traveling are translated in his works.

Cover Image source: Pixabay