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For many years the word “sustainability” was used more as a PR stunt by companies than a wide-ranging concept of their operation. However, in 2024 it finally feels different. Digital sustainability trends are shifting and taking very real forms. The pandemic, the ever-present menace of climate change, and the eco-conscious expectations of the consumers do their thing. Sustainability trends in business have become mainstream. Let’s see what it’s all about.
Digital signage and sustainability: a thorny relationship
The screens are products of the material world that use energy. They should be produced, maintained, and constantly monitored. They are far from the most environmentally-friendly tool. But as the sustainability trends show, screens can work for the benefit of the planet.
DOOH is actively used around the world to spread the message of sustainability and enables some of the coolest projects in this domain.
Here’s an EV charging company Volta using the screens to promote electric cars and reduce emissions overall.
Here’s a Polish DOOH campaign that addresses the smog problem with big billboards across the country.
The creative and provocative ‘Stop Saving’ campaign by a Cornwall-based marine charity Our Only World used the screens to convey a powerful message of saving the ocean.
On the other hand, it’s hard to deny the environmental impact that screens have. The great news is, digital sustainability trends show that the major market players are well aware of that and the change is already underway to make sure that the industry is moving in the right, lower-emissions, direction.
Eco-conscious digital signage
When we talk about sustainability and digital signage, we mean the screens. The hardware and its production are the focus of any kind of transformational environmentally-friendly changes.
In this regard, two pledges to a sustainable future should be analyzed. We’re talking about Samsung and Phillips.
They are among the biggest companies on the market and their pivot towards eco-consciousness can’t be overstated. We will take their pledges as a basis for understanding the sustainability trends in 2024.
First of all, by addressing the issue they are inspiring others to do the same.
Secondly, the narrative is in many ways driven by the strong message from the consumers who want to see the screen producers taking pledges about saving the environment.
Thirdly, there are concrete actions being taken and that’s a refreshing thing to see considering that for many years the sustainability trends stayed, well, only trends.
In other words, digital sustainability trends 2024 show that it’s all pretty serious. Companies are ready to take action. New tools are being developed in order to decrease emissions and lead the industry to a more eco-friendly future. And there’s a big shift in mentality too, everyone starts thinking about the impact. A new mission is being born: doing the digital signage as sustainable as possible.
It won’t be easy, though. Digital signage is still very much a product of the industrial revolution. Also, it’s directly linked to technological progress. But the very fact that the conversation is present and the real steps are being taken makes us believe in the positive outcome of the sustainable future of digital signage.
In order to understand the practicalities of such a change, let’s look at the eco-conscious advancements that are already happening.
Power consumption awareness
Screens need the power to run. It’s time we pay attention to exactly how much.
One of the top digital sustainability trends 2024 may not sound like something groundbreaking. But being aware of the amounts of power consumption is a big step towards more conscious digital signage.
Both Samsung and Phillips have talked about improving their energy consumption monitoring in the pledges.
Samsung is adding a feature called “real-time power consumption monitoring” to its screens.
PPDS has highlighted that it will be “providing greater access to information on energy consumption”.
That may be a small adjustment but it’s the mentality we’re talking about here. The awareness about how much energy your screen consumes is a big step towards understanding how you can reduce the impact and how to make the whole digital signage network more sustainable.
Improved energy efficiency
If energy consumption awareness is mostly about the users of technology, the next digital sustainability trend is entirely about the producers. Energy efficiency has been a priority for quite some time now. In 2024 it’s as relevant as ever.
The top players like Samsung, LG, and Phillips are all putting energy efficiency first in their latest environmental pledges. It is reflected in their products too. For example, Samsung’s latest XHB series reduces power consumption by over 15% compared to the previous version.
Phillips has recently introduced a product called “Philips Tableaux” that uses a more eco-friendly e-ink to perform the usual digital signage actions without using any energy at all. If the concept takes off, it may become a new big thing in signage technology that changes the industry completely.
The road to energy efficiency is not the easiest one. But as the awareness grows, both consumers and producers are finding ways to improve the technology and consume less. Old screens are being replaced by new, more eco-aware ones and the movement is already on.
