Digital Sustainability Summit: Digitalisation as a driver for sustainability

With 300+ participants, 40+ speakers, and 10+ sessions, ideas on how digitalization can promote sustainability, create sustainable business models, and transform the digital industry in an environmentally friendly way were discussed a few weeks ago at the Digital Sustainability Summit.

“Of course, the digital industry has its own climate footprint – we cannot deny that. But it also offers a much higher potential for savings,” emphasized Bitkom CEO Dr. Bernhard Rohleder at the opening, thus highlighting a core point of the summit: Great potentials that are far from being exhausted.

Digital innovations equip us with capabilities that we now urgently need to achieve our sustainability goals, says Prof. Dr. Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency. Because one thing is certain: Time is pressing. “It is a physical truth that our planet is limited,” warns Prof. Anders Levermann from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Topics at DSS24
European Battery Regulation: Sustainability throughout the entire lifecycle A current topic at the summit was the European Battery Regulation. It aims to significantly reduce the ecological footprint of batteries through clear specifications for their production, use, and disposal. Participants learned how this regulation encourages manufacturers to minimize resource consumption and increase the recyclability of their products. The new guidelines demand innovative solutions from the industry to promote the sustainable development of batteries.

Digital Product Passport: Transparency and Responsibility
The Digital Product Passport, another key topic of the summit, aims to bring transparency to supply chains and better inform consumers. It contains detailed information about the origin, composition, and sustainability of products. In terms of batteries, the digital product passport will pave the way for greater transparency and improved traceability by mapping the entire lifecycle from production to disposal.

Guidelines for More Sustainability
The regulation and the product passport set new standards for sustainability in the EU. Discussions at the summit emphasized how important it is for companies to adapt to these developments, not only to meet legal requirements but also to contribute to a sustainable future.