AI for Greater Sustainability: Recap Sustainable Future .digital

Smart Enough for Climate Protection or Still a Human Task?

Wiesbaden, February 20, 2025 – Sustainable Future .digital entered its fourth round

"Ask questions, participate, think critically!" – this was not only allowed but explicitly encouraged at the Sustainable Future .digital event by AOE in Wiesbaden. And those who thought they could just sit back and listen to the AI hype were quickly proven wrong right from the start.

Host AOE invited the digitalization and sustainability community to the Hessian state capital for the fourth time to discuss a central question: Can Artificial Intelligence (AI) be the game changer for a sustainable future?

Warm-up: Who Asks, Wins!

Felix Schupp, Managing Director of the AOE Group, made it clear from the beginning what this event was really about: learning, networking, and using digital transformation for a better future. Instead of welcoming the over 100 participants with a typical keynote, he handed the microphone to moderator Alexander Blom – who immediately had a challenge ready.

"Turn to your seat neighbor and ask each other the following question..." Suddenly, the room filled with voices, lively discussions, and probably a few nervous glances left and right. Mission accomplished: Nobody was supposed to just listen silently – participation was mandatory!

Climate Crisis: It’s Already "Five Past Twelve"

Then things got serious – but in the best way. Patrick Breitenbach, Managing Partner at 1789 Innovations, summed up what we should already know:

• Climate protection is not a trend but a long-term task.
• We no longer have time for "someday" – we must act NOW.
• AI can help us – but only if we use it correctly.

Instead of presenting dry numbers or making endless moral appeals, Breitenbach had a trick up his sleeve: he played a Q&A game with an AI and let it present solutions.

From Circular Economy to Precision Farming: AI Can Do It!

The AI showcased its capabilities and presented the participants with several exciting possibilities:

• Circular Economy 2.0: Digital platforms for product second life and sharing models.
• Smart Energy Supply: AI-based weather forecasts to optimize renewable energy usage.
• Smart Farming: AI-driven soil analysis and irrigation systems for sustainable agriculture.
• Rethinking Transportation: Emission-free, demand-driven mobility solutions instead of traffic congestion.

The message was clear: technology can do so much – if we use it wisely! But Breitenbach did not stop at AI enthusiasm. Technology alone is not enough; we also need political pressure for implementation – and that pressure must come from all of us. Even small steps count; it doesn’t always have to be the grand revolution.

Another intriguing thought: Is GDP (Gross Domestic Product) still an appropriate measure of prosperity today? Or do we need new economic metrics that incorporate sustainability and quality of life?

Breitenbach concluded that true sustainability depends on many influencing factors. AI offers many innovative solutions but also has a downside: it requires enormous computing power, which significantly impacts its ecological footprint. Ultimately, the key factor remains individual behavior – only through conscious consumption and adjusted lifestyles can resource consumption be sustainably reduced. A call for sufficiency instead of mere efficiency.

After this inspiring kick-off, it was clear: the Sustainable Future .digital event 2025 was about real solutions – and how each individual can contribute.

From "Duty" to "Desire" – How the Digital Product Passport Can Make Sustainability Appealing

Thomas Rödding and Kai Brinckmeier from Narravero took the stage next with one key message: sustainability doesn’t have to be a burdensome duty; it can also be attractive!

A year and a half ago, Thomas Rödding had already spoken on the AOE stage. Since sustainability is a long-term endeavor, Narravero returned to share the latest developments on the digital product passport. As CEO, Thomas works closely with the Fraunhofer Institute to help the EU define the Eco-design Regulation and coordinates 400 employees from 20 nations.

Their opening statement was bold: Recycling is actually a guessing game! Imagine wanting to recycle an old T-shirt, but no one knows what’s really in it. Cotton? Polyester? A mysterious blend that even a chemistry lab struggles to identify? The result: many products still end up in incineration because proper recycling is too complex or expensive. This is where the EU’s Eco-design Regulation comes into play.

What if every product had a digital life record revealing:

• What it’s made of (materials, ingredients)
• How to repair it (spare parts, manuals)
• How sustainable it is (CO₂ footprint, recycling options)

And the best part? This applies to (almost) everything we touch – sneakers, washing machines, T-shirts, batteries...

AI for Good: When AI Becomes a Superhero!

In a parallel breakout session, Dr. Denis Dalic and Moritz Gomm from MI4People.org demonstrated how AI can be a key factor for social good – supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

AI That Saves Children’s Lives

A heartfelt initiative: an AI-driven platform to help detect rare childhood diseases early, thus saving lives. In collaboration with the Care for Rare Foundation and Dr. von Haunersche Children’s Hospital (LMU Munich), MI4People is developing a system that analyzes vast amounts of data to support personalized medicine while ensuring the secure storage of sensitive data within hospitals.

AI in Agriculture and Ocean Protection

• Soil Quality Analysis: A free AI system predicts soil quality using satellite images and infrared spectroscopy – no expensive labs needed.
• Ocean Waste Detection: AI-powered satellite analysis detects ocean pollution in near real-time, helping environmentalists and authorities tackle marine waste effectively.

Generative AI vs. Green IT – Who Wins the Energy Battle?

In the final breakout session, AOE’s Stefan Rotsch and Robert Kemna explored the intersection of Generative AI and Green IT – from challenges to sustainable solutions.

AI can save or waste energy – the choice is ours! Sustainable AI requires not only less computing power but also smarter resource use. Their three golden rules:

1. Efficiency over computing power – Optimize AI models instead of scaling up indiscriminately.
2. Green energy as a standard – Use data centers powered by renewable energy.
3. Less is more – Only automate what truly adds value.

The True Cost of Your Shampoo

Erik Frister, CTO of GREENZERO, wrapped up the event with a live demo on environmental costs. Using AI, GREENZERO calculates the true environmental price of a product – including CO₂ emissions, biodiversity impact, and resource consumption.

His shocking conclusion: if companies factored in these environmental costs, many everyday products, like shampoo, would be luxury items!

Until the EU implements the digital product passport, GREENZERO already provides companies with a smart AI solution to make sustainable decisions.

Networking and a Dinner with a Green Twist

To top off the day, participants enjoyed networking deluxe – and a dinner with a digital food passport showing each meal’s environmental footprint.

With the success of Sustainable Future .digital 2025, AOE once again proves that technology, innovation, and sustainability are not contradictions – but the perfect combination for a livable future.