Sixty-five percent of customer sentiment suggests that brands, like the government, play a significant role in driving environmental change. Moreover, additional research highlights that:

• 84% of customers say poor environmental practices alienate them from a brand or company

• 55% of consumers are willing to pay extra for eco-friendly brands

• Gen X (62%) and Millennials (67%) show a greater uptake.

Today, the question is no longer about companies embedding sustainability into their strategic and operational frameworks. Instead, it’s about how they can fine-tune and amplify these initiatives. What measures can be taken to incorporate sustainable practices more efficiently? What strategies can we employ to elevate these efforts further?

Digital features in action

Here’s a selection of companies that have ingeniously integrated engaging and playful features into apps and the web, captivating users while steering them toward greater sustainability.

1. Changi Airport’s Changi carbon offsets program

With this feature, passengers can now gain insights into their carbon footprint with the personalized carbon footprint tracker available on the Changi Airport mobile app and website. This feature also enables passengers to take actionable steps towards offsetting their travel footprint.  

Travelers can choose to support impactful projects such as forest conservation in Indonesia, reforestation efforts in China, and wind power generation in India, ensuring their offsets are meaningful and environmentally beneficial.

How does the feature work? 

1. Click “Calculate Carbon Footprint” to calculate your per ticket carbon emission based on your flight destination and class.  

2. The app will show you the per-ticket emission on your flight, the respective trees that need to be planted to offset the emissions, and the amount that you can donate.

3. Input your debit and credit card details and donate for the plantation of trees.  

2. Harnessing Sustainability: How Samsung revolutionises power usage with SmartThings Energy

Imagine having the power to visualize the origins of your energy consumption — that’s exactly what SmartThings Energy users experience. Through an innovative collaboration with Electricity Maps, this feature not only reveals the sources of electricity but also highlights the resulting carbon dioxide emissions, empowering users to make sustainable decisions effortlessly.

With a global user base of over 270 million people, SmartThings continues to revolutionize how we manage our devices. At the heart of this transformation is SmartThings Energy, a feature enriched by the AI Energy Mode. This mode optimizes energy consumption across Samsung products, ensuring peak efficiency with a minimal carbon footprint.

Acting as your personal energy assistant.  Whether it’s calculating the ideal laundry load, setting defrost cycles, or even logging electricity bills — it does all this while seamlessly identifying when a refrigerator door is ajar or when a room becomes too cold, minimizing unnecessary energy usage.

How does the feature work? 

1. Add Compatible Devices: Tap the + (plus) icon and select Device. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect compatible appliances, such as Samsung smart washers, refrigerators, air conditioners, or energy meters.

2. Activate the SmartThings Energy Feature: Select SmartThings Energy and follow the prompts to enable the feature. If it’s your first time, the app will guide you in setting it up with connected devices.

3. Monitor Energy Usage: Once enabled, the SmartThings Energy dashboard displays your energy consumption in real time. You can view energy usage data categorized by device or appliance.

3. Revitalize and sustain: A new life for luxury with Style Theory

Envision giving your beloved luxury items — your cherished designer bag or iconic pair of shoes — a renewed purpose. Embedding sustainability into its core, Style Theory’s Restoration service provides an exclusive touch that brings your luxury back to life.

Crafted with a keen eye for detail, the Restoration service for designer bags includes sophisticated treatments like recolouring, repairing scratches, addressing discolouration, and maintaining the structural integrity of the items.  

Light scratches on delicate materials such as lambskin or calfskin leather are professionally conditioned and buffed to restore their original sheen. At the same time, deeper impairments receive expert restoration techniques to revive the leather to like-new condition.  

How does the feature work? 

1. Quote: Customers send photos of their bags via WhatsApp to receive an initial assessment and quotation from the team. This step helps identify potential restoration services required.

2. Collect: Users need to fill in all the pick-up and drop-off details. A doorstep pick-up is arranged for a USD 20 deposit. The item is physically assessed to confirm its condition and recommend the most suitable service package. The USD 20 deposit is credited towards the final service cost or refunded if the bag cannot be serviced.

3. Delivered to you: Once the restoration is completed, the freshly restored bag is delivered back to the customer’s doorstep, ready to use and admire.

The service goes beyond mere surface-level fixes. Stains, sun damage, and wrinkles are meticulously managed using bespoke treatments designed for various leather types. Whether a cherished family heirloom or a nine-to-five essential, each item receives personalized care to ensure it remains timeless in your wardrobe.

Key Takeaways:

1. Make Sustainability interactive and personal: Changi Airport’s personalized carbon tracker exemplifies how making sustainability an interactive experience can transform abstract concepts into tangible actions. Companies can foster more meaningful engagement by enabling consumers to see the direct impact of their choices.

2. Integrate smart technology for efficiency: With SmartThings Energy, Samsung taps into the potential of AI and data-driven insights to elevate energy efficiency. By providing real-time monitoring and actionable updates, companies can empower users to optimize their resource consumption and contribute to a sustainable future.

3. Transform waste into worth: Style Theory’s restoration service showcases the magic of breathing new life into existing possessions. By embracing restoration and upcycling, brands can promote a circular economy, extending product life cycles and reducing waste.

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