‘There’s always light at the end of the tunnel’ is the adage that can truly define how we plan to celebrate these last few days of the year. This year might remain etched in our memory as a grey year for a slightly rough edge it had. Given the massive scale of events this year, we should make a collective wish for a better future for humanity through sustainable practices both at home and on an industrial scale.

With approximately 1.9 billion cards exchanged, $75 billion spent on buying Christmas gifts, and, 20.8 million Christmas trees cut in the U.S. alone, the impact of Christmas celebration on the environment is irreversibly huge. But small changes can make the biggest difference in reducing wastage and ensuring a greener environment.

This year gave us a glimpse of how much the earth can benefit from halted/minimized industrial operations. While supply chains collapsed and spelled disaster for companies, nature benefited from this lack of operation. The pandemic drastically reduced travel and, as a result, fuel consumption. Lowered demand for goods has decreased the rate of production, which led to fewer emissions. This has improved the air quality in some of the most polluted cities around the world, reduced water pollution, and given a chance for wildlife to thrive.

In order to maintain these positive effects, we need to make prompt and concerted efforts toward creating a more sustainable future. However, taking steps toward sustainability is not as hard as it may seem at first glance. The pandemic has already given us a blueprint for reduced emissions – going digital! Remote work can reduce the need for transportation and, in some cases, even boost productivity. Even when offices do open up, we don’t need to go back to occupying large, exclusive workspaces. Coworking spaces can help employees of different companies share resources and reduce costs. This can also reduce the need for additional construction in densely populated concrete jungles and thus reduce water waste and power consumption.

In addition to the conservation of energy, this new reality will likely trigger a wave of innovation. If businesses of today invest in the necessary research, there will soon be technological advancements that make the utilization of renewable energy sources more viable. This will further drive down the cost of sustainability.

A company’s overall strategy can inject sustainability within the organization in a top-down fashion. AmploFly4.0 can help a company design a sustainable strategy while adopting Industry 4.0 efficiencies. Right off the bat, AmploFly4.0 eliminates the costs associated with traditional management consulting through its DIY strategy solution. Once implemented, AmploFly4.0 enables an iterative cycle of process assessment and improvement. Making more efficient supply chains, creating better data and IT strategies, applying design thinking to business challenges, and building a sustainability framework can change cost centers to profit centers.

With a little effort, small sacrifices, and strategic planning, we can serve as Santa for future generations and ensure a merry Christmas for humankind and the planet, year after year.