The world of sustainability is evolving at an unprecedented pace, presenting new challenges and opportunities for driving impact alongside business growth. In an era defined by climate urgency, resource scarcity, and shifting stakeholder expectations, leaders must remain agile and purpose-driven to navigate this complex landscape.
One of the biggest enablers of this transformation? Artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a hot topic in business, specifically the role it plays in sustainability. The 2025 Sustainability Leaders Summit in Melbourne – attended by several members of the Drinks Association Sustainability Council – shared that over 60% of global businesses reported that AI is already helping to increase productivity. In fact, AI adoption has doubled in just the past year. Here in Australia, the AI market is forecast to grow by around 28% annually through 2030.
But what does that mean for sustainability professionals?
The impact of AI in addressing environmental challenges is profound. Climate modelling and prediction harness the power of AI to understand the complex dynamics of climate change. AI-driven systems optimise renewable energy sources, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in the energy sector, and in smart buildings AI manages energy consumption, reducing costs and emissions. In the farming world, precision agriculture leverages sensors and data analytics to maximise crop yields while conserving resources. Ultimately, AI technology is at the forefront of efforts to create a greener, more sustainable future and hiring the top talent to facilitate this is becoming increasingly important.
For sustainability leaders in the drinks industry, AI offers particular promise across several key areas:
- Sustainable agriculture: AI is helping growers monitor soil health, weather conditions and crop performance in real-time to improve sustainability outcomes.
- Energy consumption: Smart systems reduce energy usage across production facilities and logistics networks.
- Supply chain optimisation: AI improves visibility, traceability and efficiency, supporting reduced emissions and waste.
- Air pollution control and prevention: Predictive analytics help identify risks and enable quicker, more effective responses.
Stay tuned for more insights from the Sustainability Council on how drinks suppliers can harness the power of AI to drive sustainability and business performance – hand in hand.