Interchangeably known as ‘Envirotech’, ‘Cleantech’ or ‘Greentech’, there’s no single accepted definition of environmental technologies that cut emissions, improve the environment and reduce the consumption of natural resources. Wikipedia’s definition gives a pretty succinct overview but by now most people have an idea of how super cool and important the initiatives that the Envirotech space is coming up with are. Click here for some of the most exciting green startups to watch in 2020. Or here to get a feel for some of the environmental technology out there. 

There’s no doubt sustainability is important. It has been for a long time but in a post-COVID world, more than ever. McKinsey has an entire sustainability blog where their experts give quick takes on the trends in the business of sustainability. Countless technological innovations are changing the Envirotech industry. In their Top Ten Technologies to Save the World report, Forbes talks about carbon capture and energy storage, renewable energy-powered seawater desalination, electric and autonomous vehicles, nanofabrication and advanced manufacturing, gene editing and biofuels, robotics and sophisticated software systems, to name just a few. Technologies such as 3D printing, nanotechnology, data analytics, blockchain and AI impact energy and climate change, water, mobility, biotechnology, space and tech for good. They are converging to improve efficiencies, optimize electricity consumption, and produce smart systems that will reduce our carbon footprint. The Envirotech space is hugely exciting, fast-changing, and needed more urgently than ever to protect the future of our planet.

However, in a post COVID world, as the World Economic Forum points out, keeping up the necessary pace of Envirotech is going to be tougher. New challenges will arise from a faltering global economy and new ways of working and collaboration will be essential.  The WEF puts forward three compelling ways to boost Envirotech momentum in the post-COVID-19 era. And an even more compelling argument as to why COVID-19 might help us win the fight against climate change. However, as they also rightly point out, what happens over the coming months and as the world starts to emerge in the aftermath of the pandemic can go one of two ways. Either short-term easy fixes (many with adverse environmental consequences) might cast aside longer-term aspirations. OR “while we are reeling in the shock of what is happening around us and coming to terms with our new reality, we could seize this moment as a unique window of opportunity to re-build our society and economy as we want it. With scientists warning we have 10 years left to avoid the worse consequences of climate change, a post (or midst)-COVID world could offer an opportunity to fix the climate crisis before it’s too late.” 

This is essentially why Sharesource feels so passionately about working in the Envirotech space. COVID has shown that we’re all in this together (though we may be in different boats.) Global citizenship is needed to address the pressing problems of our time - and Sharesource believes in building global citizens. One of our core values is social impact - and helping Envirotech companies meet their challenges is one way we walk our talk. Working with customers whose values align with ours is a sure-fire way to provide meaningful work that really is a reason to get up with purpose and passion every day. We help Envirotech businesses tap into super-smart STEM talent in developing countries. It’s a win-win situation:- meaningful and exciting work opportunities (that often enable feeding or educating of entire families) is provided in developing countries. Fast-growing Envirotech companies get their problems fixed and value added to their business. Not only is the cost arbitrage helpful to the ‘triple bottom line’ (TBL) this space is subject to, it’s a triple whammy hitting social and environmental concerns out the park too.  As the TBL proposes, instead of one bottom line, there should be three: profit, people and the planet. Were there ever more important reasons to be in business? 

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