Sustainability
Forrester provides the latest insights about sustainability and mitigating environmental risk, including the effects of climate change and extreme weather.
Insights
Blog
Predictions 2027: AI Slingshots Environmental Sustainability From Promises To Action
AI’s rapid growth is colliding with real-world limits on energy, water, and infrastructure. Explore Forrester’s 2027 predictions to see how new regulations, community scrutiny, and digital product passports will reshape sustainability strategies.
Blog
Outcome‑Based Pricing In IT Sustainability Services: What Buyers Need To Know
Outcome‑based pricing links a portion of provider fees to clearly defined measurable results rather than effort or time spent. For IT sustainability services, those outcomes are typically financial (cost reduction, efficiency gains) or environmental (carbon reduction, energy savings, audit‑ready compliance outputs). Unlike time‑and‑materials or fixed‑fee models, this approach shifts delivery risk to the provider and […]
Blog
Net Zero In 2026: Why Pragmatism Drives Companies To Take Different Paths
Long‑term net-zero commitments, typically framed as emissions reductions aligned with a 2050 timeframe, were a fad across global companies in the past decade. It was the de facto way to signal virtue to both customers and investors. Recently, however, the signals have become more mixed. Some organizations have scaled back or stopped emphasizing these targets, […]
Blog
Build Bridges To Customers With Digital Product Passports
There's a real opportunity for organizations to leverage digital product passports beyond sustainability and compliance use cases.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sustainability mean for businesses today?
For businesses today, sustainability means creating long-term value by balancing environmental, social, and governance priorities with financial performance. It includes responsible resource use, ethical operations, and reducing environmental impact while supporting growth, resilience, and stakeholder trust.
Why is sustainability important for corporate strategy?
Sustainability is now a strategic imperative, not just a compliance requirement. Customers, employees, and investors expect responsible action. Embedding sustainability into strategy helps organizations reduce risk, strengthen trust, differentiate their brand, and uncover new sources of innovation and growth.
What challenges do companies face in advancing sustainability?
Companies often struggle with fragmented data, unclear ownership, and competing short-term priorities. Evolving regulations and inconsistent global standards add complexity. Advancing sustainability requires strong governance, reliable measurement, and cross-functional collaboration to turn commitments into action.
How does Forrester help organizations accelerate sustainability efforts?
Forrester helps leaders turn sustainability goals into measurable outcomes. Through research, benchmarks, and advisory support, we guide organizations in connecting sustainability to customer expectations, operational efficiency, risk management, and long-term business value.
Blog
Circular IT And Factual ESG Data Are Becoming Architecture Decisions
As global CO₂ emissions continue to rise, IT stands out as one of the fastest‑growing contributors, driven by expanding digital estates, accelerating AI investments, and rapidly growing data center demand. This reality is reshaping expectations for enterprise architecture (EA). Architects are no longer asked only to optimize cost, performance, and resilience. They are increasingly expected […]
Blog
When The Cloud Comes To Town: How Energy, Communities, And Accountability Need A Rethink
The rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers transforms what once seemed like invisible, back-end digital infrastructure into a highly visible, very localized challenge. According to Forrester’s US Tech Market Forecast, 2025 To 2030, AI could add 1.3 to 1.7 gigatons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to 2–3% of global emissions. Additionally, global data center demand […]
Blog
Honey, I Shrunk The Factory: Why Microfactories Matter Now More Than Ever
My colleague Paul Miller pointed out that the Financial Times recently published a compelling piece titled, “Honey, I shrunk the factory.” The article spotlights the rise of microfactories — compact, flexible, and often automated production units that challenge traditional manufacturing paradigms. While it paints a vivid picture of the trend’s momentum, it also raises critical […]
Blog
Where We Go Next After Climate Week NYC
In past editions of Climate Week, the discussion focused on climate strategy and corporate sustainability strategies. Now, it’s about putting environmental sustainability initiatives into action and showing business returns. Learn the four things that all companies need to do coming out of this year's Climate Week event.
Blog
How Accurate Were Our Predictions For 2025?
Predictions season is here, and our research teams have been hard at work formulating and fine-tuning their calls for 2026. But before we release our 2026 predictions, here’s a review of some of the “hits” and “misses” from our 2025 predictions.
Blog
The Circular Economy: The White Knight Of IT Sustainability In Recycled Armor
Circular economy initiatives often lack a holistic approach, leading to varied interpretations and applications. Learn the six key components that play a crucial role in applying circular economy principles in IT.
Blog
Cogeneration For The Next Generation Of Data Centers
To meet rising energy demands without overwhelming traditional power grids, data centers are exploring more efficient and sustainable energy solutions, such as cogeneration — aka combined heat and power (CHP). Learn three of the key benefits of CHP in this post.
Blog
Predictions 2026: Environmental Sustainability Enters An Era Of Authenticity
Environmental sustainability is entering a new era: Performative messaging is out, and authenticity is in. Find out what this means in Forrester’s 2026 predictions for environmental sustainability.
Podcast
Anthropic Lawsuit, AI And Energy, CMO Trends
As we hurtle toward the end of August, it’s time to look toward the future. More specifically, the future of Anthropic (and other AI firms), the future of AI as a technology, and the future of the CMO role.
Blog
Jekyll And Hyde: The Dual Role Of Disruptive Technologies In Sustainability
Disruptive technologies such AI can boost efforts towards some strategic priorities, but can also work against environmental sustainability goals. Learn more about the the dual role played by six of the most important disruptive technologies poised to shape sustainability in 2025.
Blog
Leverage Cocreation To Accelerate Sustainability Innovation
Cocreation is a powerful tool to help CMOs orchestrate multiple internal teams and external partners to drive innovation. Because environmental sustainability demands a systemic approach with multiple stakeholders, CMOs can apply some of the lessons learned to help drive an ambitious cocreation agenda for environmental sustainability. The CMO’s position — at the intersection of business […]
Blog
HPE Discover 2025: AI Is Infrastructure; Infrastructure Is AI
Get Forrester's take on seven key announcements coming out of the event and find out how these developments may shape or disrupt your IT roadmap.
Blog
How Yves Rocher Integrates Sustainability Into Its Business
After studying for a certificate in business sustainability management from the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, I pivoted part of my research at Forrester to the intersection of marketing, AI innovation, and environmental sustainability. Back in 2021, I interviewed dozens of leaders about sustainability disruption and how to transform their business. I interviewed Guy Flament, […]
Blog
AI Race: Can Huawei Close The AI Gap?
Huawei Just Raised The Stakes For those just tuning in, NVIDIA has been driving much of the AI infrastructure conversation. Huawei has been, not so loudly, building its own AI stack, right from the silicon to systems to AI models. CloudMatrix ups Huawei’s play in the market considerably. The CloudMatrix-Infer system is no ordinary cluster. […]
Blog
Sustainability Leaders Must Drive Operational Results In 2025
This is a pivotal year for sustainability leaders as a new environmental, social, and governance winter sets in. Get three key takeaways from Forrester’s new report, “Top Recommendations For Your Environmental Sustainability Program, 2025,” to help you navigate the new reality.
Blog
Eaton’s Solutions By The Sea Data Center Vision And Partner Conference: Predicting The Future Of Data Centers
Get a quick review of some of the sessions and topic covered at Eaton’s Solutions by the Sea data center vision and partner conference.
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