Emerging Sustainability Innovations and Technologies Shaping Our World in 2026

2025 has been a challenging year for sustainability. Around the world, several governments reconsidered or delayed elements of their climate commitments, making long‑term planning harder for businesses. International agreements that once felt settled have been revisited, and global cooperation is showing signs of strain.

At the same time, extreme weather events have caused supply‑chain disruptions, and rising expectations from investors, employees and consumers have created a sense of urgency that politics alone has failed to contend with. Many organisations have found themselves navigating mixed signals from policymakers while trying to satisfy a public that wants faster action.

Yet in the middle of this uncertainty, innovation has accelerated. Start‑ups, researchers and forward‑thinking businesses have pushed ahead with solutions that are redefining what’s possible. At 17 Solutions Consulting, we spend much of our time looking toward the horizon for the technologies and systems that will shape the next decade. We believe the most exciting developments are grounded in sustainability principles which are having real‑world impact.

Here are the innovations and emerging trends to watch in 2026.

Circular Economy

Regulatory pressure, stakeholder expectations and public scrutiny are accelerating the need for genuine climate innovation. One of the fastest‑growing areas is the circular economy, and it’s proving to be a huge win for sustainability. Businesses that connect waste with reuse opportunities are gaining momentum and, crucially, consumer trust. Greenwashing came under intense scrutiny last year, and the public is no longer standing for sloppy, unserious schemes.

People are voting with their feet. Platforms like Vinted and Too Good To Go have shifted from niche apps to everyday habits, reshaping how we shop and how we value resources. Their success shows that when sustainability is convenient and cost‑effective, adoption follows naturally.

Even big retailers are now embedding circular services into their sustainability strategies. In 2025, Marks & Spencer launched its Another Life scheme, extending the life of garments and ensuring they are responsibly recycled or resold. Similar schemes from H&M, John Lewis and River Island reflect a broader shift towards mainstream circularity.

Innovators to watch:

• Notpla (UK) — creating seaweed‑based packaging that naturally biodegrades, offering a real alternative to single‑use plastics.

• Reskinned (UK) — powering large‑scale take‑back, repair and resale schemes for major UK retailers, keeping textiles in circulation and reducing waste.

• Olio (Global) — a food‑sharing app turning surplus meals into community resources instead of waste.

Mobility

The transition to electric mobility continues at pace. Organisations across sectors are electrifying their fleets, and rapid technological breakthroughs are making clean transport more reliable and accessible. Because transportation remains one of the biggest contributors to global emissions, progress here is essential.

This year, the Climate Group’s EV100 initiative helped major businesses like Barclays, Aviva and Mitie electrify more than half of their fleets. But electric mobility is also being shaped by the companies building the infrastructure behind the scenes. One example is Sinewave, the only B‑Corp certified ICP in the world, enabling the rollout of large‑scale EV charging networks across the UK. Their work sits at the intersection of clean transport and clean energy, helping organisations transition fleets, power low‑carbon logistics hubs and future‑proof their estates. Their carbon‑tracking platform, Switch, gives businesses clearer visibility of the emissions associated with infrastructure projects, a practical step toward more transparent, data‑driven sustainability.

Innovators to watch:

• Einride (Global) — electric and autonomous freight transport that cuts emissions across long‑haul and last‑mile logistics.

• Zedify (UK) — using cargo bikes and micro‑hubs to decarbonise last‑mile delivery in cities.

• Ampd Energy (Hong Kong) — replacing diesel generators on construction sites with clean, battery‑powered alternatives.

Health

Innovation in health is accelerating at an extraordinary rate. Technologies that once felt like science fiction, such as brain‑computer interfaces, are moving closer to real‑world application, helping people manage complex conditions in increasingly non‑invasive ways. From virtual consultations to remote monitoring devices, people now have more control over their health than ever before. These tools are helping clinicians intervene earlier, reduce pressure on overstretched systems and support patients in ways that feel more flexible and humane.

At the same time, medicine is becoming safer and more personalised. AI‑powered diagnostic systems are speeding up detection, reducing human error and making care more accessible. Some of the most exciting developments are happening where physical and mental health meet. Companies are creating platforms that offer holistic support, from sleep coaching to stress management, recognising that wellbeing is a multi‑faceted issue. As more organisations invest in employee wellbeing and preventative care, the line between healthcare and everyday life continues to soften.

Innovators to watch:

• BrainWaveBank (Ireland) — developing wearable neurotechnology to monitor cognitive health in everyday settings.

• Peppy (UK/Global) — providing accessible digital support for menopause, fertility and men’s health, reducing pressure on traditional healthcare systems.

• Tendo (US) — simplifying patient journeys with digital tools that improve care coordination and reduce administrative waste.

Cybersecurity & Digital Resilience

As sustainability solutions become increasingly digital, from EV infrastructure to supply‑chain analytics, the resilience of the systems behind them becomes a sustainability issue in its own right. Cybersecurity now sits firmly within ESG expectations, forming a critical part of responsible governance and long‑term operational stability.

2025 saw a wave of high‑profile data breaches, affecting more people than ever before. Many businesses lost customers due to weak security practices, a crushing lesson in how quickly trust can erode. In 2026, investment in cybersecurity will be a defining factor in whether organisations retain the confidence of stakeholders and customers.

We’re also seeing a shift towards proactive, culture‑led security, where teams are trained to spot risks early and technology quietly supports safer behaviour in the background. As digital systems become more interconnected, robustness will matter just as much as innovation.

Innovators to watch:

• Immersive Labs (UK/Global) — providing cyber‑resilience training that strengthens human decision‑making in real time.

• Tessian (UK/US) — using machine learning to prevent human‑error‑based security breaches, one of the biggest vulnerabilities in modern organisations.

• Snyk (Global) — helping developers build secure software from the ground up.

AI and Sustainable Digital Infrastructure

Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic add‑on, and what’s striking is how accessible this technology has become. AI has already transformed how people and businesses work, and adoption has skyrocketed over the past year. Increasingly, it is becoming deeply integrated into sustainability workflows, from supply‑chain optimisation to emissions forecasting, helping organisations make better decisions, faster. But AI also comes with a significant environmental footprint. Training and running large models requires substantial energy and water, and the rapid expansion of data centres is creating new sustainability challenges.

In 2026, the most meaningful AI innovations will be those that reduce this impact while enabling more efficient systems. One of the clearest signals of this shift came in late 2025, when Alphabet announced a $4.75B acquisition of Intersect, a clean‑energy and data‑centre infrastructure developer. The deal gives Alphabet direct access to multiple gigawatts of solar, wind and battery projects, ensuring that future AI‑driven data‑centre growth is powered by additional renewable capacity rather than placing further strain on ageing grids. Intersect’s “energy park” model is designed to accelerate data‑centre deployment while reducing transmission bottlenecks.

This marks a shift away from simply purchasing renewable credits and towards owning the infrastructure required to decarbonise digital operations, a trend we expect to accelerate in 2026 as AI demand continues to surge.

Innovators to watch:

• Carbon Re (UK/Global) — using AI to reduce emissions in heavy industry, particularly cement and steel production.

• Open Climate Fix (UK) — applying machine learning to predict solar energy generation more accurately, helping grids use renewable power more efficiently.

• Circulor (Global) — using AI and blockchain to trace materials through complex supply chains.

Conclusion

Over the last decade, there has been a lot of talking and not nearly enough doing. The organisations seeing real success today are the ones making small but meaningful changes to how they operate, and then building on that momentum.

The future belongs to businesses that move beyond marketing buzzwords and deliver measurable impact. Solving real problems for real people is where sustainability principles will flourish.

At 17 Solutions Consulting, we believe the biggest wins will come from organisations that embrace innovation, strengthen their systems and commit to sustainable, resilient ways of working.