Last week, Logitech’s CEO, Hanneke Faber, addressed the significant challenges that companies encounter when attempting to reduce their environmental footprint. While procuring renewable energy and utilizing recycled materials are essential steps, achieving “zero carbon” goals requires more substantial changes, including reducing physical production.
This often means designing products that focus on essential customer needs, with minimal frills, a low initial footprint, extended longevity, and the capability for repair or upgrades with minimal environmental impact. Logitech, in acknowledging this, proposed the concept of a “forever mouse”—a high-quality product designed for indefinite use. However, during this interview with The Verge, it became evident that to sustain profitability, Logitech would need to explore alternative revenue models, such as a monthly subscription. This idea received widespread criticism from tech reviewers and users alike.
This situation exemplifies the broader issue companies face in their efforts to decarbonize. Achieving net zero emissions necessitates a global reduction in physical production, which in turn will lead to lower sales for many businesses. Developing genuinely sustainable corporate strategies in a decarbonizing world is the challenge of the current decade. And it begins with understanding the physical constraints that underly our industrial society, our economic system, and the potential solutions.