10 Top Trends That Are Shaping Sustainability in 2024 

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Sustainability is touching every sector and consumer behavior, and 2024 is no different. Some trends are new, while others are inspired and elevated from previous years. Find out how diverse and impactful each eco-friendly trend has become this year.

1. Renewables Replace Fossil Fuels

Renewables have been entering the scene for awhile, but it is about more than rooftop solar panels. The advent of green power is causing fossil fuel plants to shut down, leaving many throughout the U.S. abandoned. A trend shaping utility’s future is taking these defunct buildings and repurposing them for sustainable energy generators. It’s a powerful statement, because it uses infrastructure the country already has for something greener.

2. Finance Will Become Greener

Many people are wising up to how unsustainable banks are, especially when it becomes public knowledge that many support fossil fuels and other unethical causes — totaling over $1.8 trillion. People are moving to decentralized platforms, or peer-to-peer financial applications to get their money out of big banks. 

Additionally, they are investing in greener portfolios, instead of the standard S&P 500. People are finding more ways to vote with their dollar, and this is one of the most revolutionary.

3. Urban Farming Will Grow

The Covid-19 pandemic made people in cities realize how much they crave green spaces. Combine this with a growing interest in homestead culture and self-sufficiency, and you have an increase in urban agriculture. Community-based and rooftop gardens are on the rise, making cities more lush with food than ever.

4. EV Chargers Will Be Everywhere

The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill are only a few reasons behind this, but many private companies want to expand who has access to electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Low access is one of the main reasons people don’t buy them, so incorporating them in homes, parking lots, gas stations, and more will become the norm.

5. Social Media Advocacy Will Change Companies

Social platforms are the most personable way for consumers to communicate with companies, especially when it comes to calling them out for greenwashing or providing feedback on how to be better for the planet. This has been a trend for awhile, but because of platforms like TikTok which share information much faster than other platforms, this will only become more rampant.

6. Environmental Justice Becomes Intersectional

Sometimes, climate action doesn’t equally consider all types of people from all backgrounds. For example, building green infrastructure could displace people without homes or destroy affordable housing. The same buildings may not be friendly for people with disabilities. Environmental justice is a social issue, and more people are realizing they need to find ways to be more considerate of all people when it comes to reversing climate change.

7. Shopping Will Be More Circular

Instead of buying single-use items like cosmetics, there will be more circular options available because they are competitive. Companies like SodaStream and Plaine have made business models around sending products back to be refilled — this keeps existing products in-use and new materials from being required to keep the business alive. Less waste will be the norm, and companies relying on single-use materials will become obsolete.

8. AI Will Provide Environmental Insights

Though many people fear AI’s influence, it has a lot to offer in green spaces. It could help people understand how much energy they’re using, how to maintain equipment to extend its longevity, and generate ideas on how to salvage biodiversity in niche biomes. The possibilities of what AI could help people with is only limited by humanity’s imagination.

9. More Jobs Will Include Green Skills

Reports show how underskilled society is in environmental and green subject areas, but it grows slightly every year. Eventually, it won’t just be sustainability consultants and activists that make the planet a critical part of their role — it will be most jobs. Interior designers, engineers, teachers, and everything in between, will have to make climate subjects a pillar of how they make decisions. 

10. Lab-Grown Food Sees More Research

Vegetarian and vegan diets used to be a fad, but they are more popular than ever as people discover how much eating animal products hurts the planet. Because of this rising trend, researchers are playing more with the idea of growing meat in laboratories to reduce the footprints of the meat and dairy industry. Products with percentages of lab-grown meat have been on sale in Singapore, with more to come in the future.

Sustainable Trends in 2024

If 2024 is any indication, green subjects will only become more commonplace as time goes on. Climate awareness will infiltrate everything, and this is an optimistic side effect of how hard people are working to save the Earth.