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Scaling Sustainability: Complementary strategies that drive long-term success
Thursday, May 29, 2025 • Climate UX Interest Group
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Scaling Sustainability: Complementary strategies that drive long-term success
Speakers: Amy Parness
Link:

Summary

In today's business landscape, the perceived tension between growth and sustainability is dissolving. This case study explores how Cisco Meraki transformed sustainability challenges into market opportunities, achieving cost savings and revenue growth while reducing environmental impact. By reimagining customer journeys, elevating innovative circular economy solutions, and engaging customers through business needs, sustainability is a growth lever. The findings reveal practical frameworks for organizations seeking to leverage sustainability as a growth catalyst rather than viewing it as a regulatory burden.

Key Insights

  • Sustainability should be portrayed in terms of business value, not just environmental impact.

  • User experience research can uncover significant gaps in how sustainability is communicated to customers.

  • Inverse relationships exist between sustainability features and customer awareness; promoting energy efficiency can attract more clients.

  • Visibility in user experiences for sustainable aspects is crucial for informing and attracting customers.

  • Collaboration across marketing, engineering, and UX leads to more compelling sustainability initiatives.

  • Tying sustainability to corporate KPIs can make it more appealing to stakeholders who might be resistant to eco-centric arguments.

  • Greenwashing concerns can be mitigated through clear, data-backed sustainability practices.

  • Engaging in green team initiatives can raise awareness of sustainability within a company.

  • Networking with others in the organization who share sustainability goals can foster greater change.

  • Changes in sustainability practices often require long-term commitment and persistence from advocates.

Notable Quotes

"I'm a problem solver, so I was excited to find out why these products are sustainable and where the data is."

"We need to fix the leaky funnels if customers aren’t being driven to products and solutions."

"The Energy Star program has created over a billion dollars in annual revenue."

"Visibility was my driver; if it’s not visible throughout the entire user experience, customers won't remember it."

"Sustainability is often more appealing when it's framed as energy management rather than as purely a 'sustainability' initiative."

"I wish I had nurtured relationships with the legal team earlier to smooth the approval process."

"This project has raised a lot of awareness within the company about sustainability opportunities."

"I’m a stubborn person; I keep pushing and showing how valuable sustainability is."

"Sustainability should be viewed as a long-haul project that involves patient advocacy."

"We need a global organization to monitor AI's energy usage."

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