eco’s Managing Director Alexander Rabe: “Digitalisation is part of the solution for more sustainability, including in the field of agriculture and food”
- eco survey: Digital solutions for sustainable consumption still not widespread in society as a whole (11.6%)
- Consumers use digital services mainly to search for regional producers (18.8%) and information about ingredients (17.3%)
- eco #JOINTHESOLUTION shows digital best practices in the field of sustainability, climate protection and society
In the course of the International Green Week, until 29 January the agricultural and food industry will be discussing current topics and trends on agriculture and nutrition in Berlin. A major focus is also on the question of solutions for a more sustainable agriculture and food industry as well as climate protection and resource efficiency in food production.
“In this field, digitalisation is also an important driver of innovation – with this also being the case in many other sectors and industries. Data-driven solutions are already helping to make business more resource-efficient while at the same time increasing productivity and saving working hours,” says eco Managing Director Alexander Rabe.
But consumers can also contribute to more sustainability in the agriculture and the food industry with the help of digital solutions. This awareness has already taken hold, especially among the young generation of 18 to 29-year-olds. Around one in four (24.8%) already use digital services and apps to make their consumption more sustainable, according to the results of a representative population survey conducted by the market and opinion research institute Civey on behalf of eco – Association of the Internet Industry.*
While the share of the total population availing of these solutions is still quite low at 11.6%, the trend is clearly visible, says Rabe: “Digital services and technologies are also making it increasingly easy for consumers to make quick and cost-neutral decisions in favour of sustainable and resource-conserving products, even without a great deal of pre-knowledge. In the coming years, we will see more and more such services on the market, which will also be used by a growing number of people as society becomes increasingly aware of the need for a more sustainable, climate-friendly and ethical consumption and lifestyle. Digitalisation offers an enormous potential for more sustainable lives and I expect a surge in the number of people who recognise and also use the opportunities of digitalisation.”
Currently, according to the survey, respondents’ primary interests are in finding regional producers (18.8%) and information on ingredients (17.3%).
Further information on the topic of “Digitalisation and Sustainability” and which solutions digitalisation already offers today for a more sustainable and resource-saving economy can be accessed on the website of the eco initiative: “#JOINTHESOLUTION: We are part of the solution – the Internet industry”.
* On behalf of eco, the opinion research company Civey surveyed 2,500 people between 17 and 19 January 2023. The results are representative of the inhabitants of the Federal Republic of Germany aged 18 and over. The statistical error of the overall results is 3.6 per cent.
