Rotisserie chicken is a staple in my house. We’ve consumed Costco’s chicken long enough to have first-hand experience with the company’s transformation to reduce plastic use and carbon emissions. Once upon a time, Costco used hard, plastic containers for its tasty chicken. Today, the company uses a flexible bag.
The new bags use 75% less plastic, which help reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills. The bags are also much easier to transport, reducing the amount of trucks on the road. Fewer trucks reduce carbon emissions. The company is significantly impacting sustainability with a seemingly small adjustment.
Naturally, some customers were not happy. People often resist change, and many customers wanted the old plastic “clamshell” container back. Yet Costco made the difficult decision with sustainability in mind and hoped customers would eventually adapt to the new packaging. Many companies are using AI to decide how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Costco is no stranger to AI. The company has long used AI to save costs, make better decisions, and quickly respond to the supply chain and customers’ demands. However, Costco is an excellent example of how companies can dramatically enhance their environmental impact with small changes.
AI Can Drive Sustainability in Incredible Ways
AI’s potential to drive sustainability transformation is thrilling when you consider the fantastic impact that companies can make towards a more sustainable world. Within my work, I have witnessed how AI is reshaping industries and sectors to be more resourceful and environmentally responsible. From optimizing energy consumption, rethinking the supply chain and sourcing, to changing product design and packaging all reduce carbon emissions. AI is no longer just a futuristic concept but a necessity in sustainability.
Companies can leverage AI to improve industrial operations and meet sustainability goals. When implemented thoughtfully, AI can revolutionize sustainability efforts and have a remarkable impact on the efficiency of manufacturing enterprises.
AI-driven systems can optimize energy usage by using algorithms that optimize heating, cooling, and lighting in buildings that would otherwise guzzle energy to keep running. For example, Google applied DeepMind machine learning to its own data centers and cut energy use by 40%. AI analyzed the most efficient methods of cooling by looking at data from sensors in the server racks and analyzing temperatures to keep servers at optimal temperatures. The reduction was impressive enough to set a precedent for global tech firms.
Siemens followed a similar AI model when the company wanted to lower operational costs and decrease its carbon footprint. It employed AI-powered “digital twins,” or virtual models of its factories that increase energy efficiency with real-time data. These companies are among thousands of businesses using AI to innovate.
Microsoft has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, but the company is now a global leader in sustainability. In 2017, when Microsoft launched its AI for Earth program, news outlets recognized it as a “game-changer for the planet.” Since then, the company has shifted towards bigger and better sustainability programs. Microsoft’s AI capabilities have grown substantially and evolved to help various industries and sectors achieve their sustainability goals.
Microsoft actively partners with governments, businesses, and non-profits to create a cleaner, safer world. The company’s AI-driven sustainability initiatives represent a fundamental shift in how AI algorithms can be used to protect the planet.
AI Offers Hope for a More Sustainable World
A few years ago, during the height of the pandemic, a funny meme began to circulate around the internet. The meme “Nature is Healing” dominated social media and included many humorous visuals and comedic observations. The memes included Crocs shoes floating down a stream, dinosaurs in Times Square, and a giant yellow rubber duck on the Thames River. These hilarious memes became a source of laughter during a difficult time. Hidden within the message of these memes was the underlying thought that the pandemic was a pause for nature that could allow the earth to return to a more peaceful state.
A team from Virginia Commonwealth University decided to study hundreds of memes to understand their underlying messages. The team found that climate change can make one feel powerless and depressed, and memes provide a sense of comfort in a seemingly hopeless situation.
As natural resources dwindle and ecosystems collapse, the need for sustainability has never been more critical. Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it is a necessity. AI, coupled with sustainability, can save the environment and has immense economic and social benefits. AI offers hope in sustainability efforts. Advanced AI systems can provide environmental and sustainability solutions that humans might overlook.