Our members tap into the wisdom of experts and source impact investing opportunities through Boundless Briefs on up and coming industries and technologies worth learning about.
Since Columbia University professor Dickson Despommier coined the phrase “vertical farms” in 2010, the industry has soared, with some expecting it to grow into a $10 billion industry by 2026.
The promises of indoor vertical farming to industrialize the high-value crop production have created a window of opportunity for investors seeking to deploy capital in an environmentally impactful way.
Read MoreThe unprecedented levels of technological advancement related to autonomous vehicles in sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics — from driverless taxis to automated cargo trucks and the convergence of the software, hardware, and data services industries — are disrupting approaches to car building and operations.
For investors, AVs present a number of opportunities and challenges, with the potential to impact several industries including healthcare, infrastructure, insurance, Internet of Things, etc.
Read More3D printing, known for making medical implants, machine parts, dental products and other consumer products, is also being employed in food manufacturing: for creation of candies, pastries, chocolates, pizzas, and a host of other dishes. It provides a means to achieving creativity in the kitchen, with the added benefits of cutting waste and cooking time.
A technology dating back to the 1980s, 3D printing produces items by laying down successive layers of material, with each layer essentially representing a thinly sliced cross-section of the final object.
Read MoreWhile we like to think of plastic packaging as temporary and disposable, it’s actually awfully close to permanent, as durable as any manmade substance.
Bioplastics, or bio-based plastics, are made from renewable plant or biological materials like cornstarch, sugars, cellulose, vegetable fats and oils, or recycled food waste.
Read MoreAs the construction industry resets in a post-pandemic world, it’s reckoning with the need for sustainable building practices, material alternatives and innovative products. The pressure to cut greenhouse gases opens the door to investors and new opportunities to utilize renewable materials and introduce them to the construction supply chain.
Read MoreAs the need for innovation to combat air pollution soars, cities across the world are transforming through urbanization and efforts to become “smart.” We’ve reached the point where all but 1% of the world’s population is breathing dirty air, according to the World Health Organization. Air pollution has become the top environmental health risk humanity faces, the WHO says.
Read MoreDemand is growing for crop protection products, as the world economy and population expands and new pests and diseases spread around the planet. Companies and investors are increasingly investing in environmentally friendly solutions, aware that the cure must be less harmful than the problem.
Read MoreWith earth’s limited freshwater resources, treatment is critical to ensure the supply of clean H2O. And yet 80% of the world’s wastewater likely gets discharged directly into the environment without treatment, meaning there is an urgent need for the expansion of wastewater treatment.
Read MoreStrong, durable and — relative to load-bearing capacity — light are what characterize composite materials. Thousands of years ago the Egyptians added straw to mud to create a stronger brick and in the future, composites will be along for the ride to new planets due to their strength and light weight. But while composites undergird our modern culture, they’re also raising alarms. Cheap, disposable packaging and household goods are made using dirty processes that threaten the health of species and the planet’s natural systems.
Read MoreThe forces driving wind’s expanding share of the global energy market remain strong. Public sentiment and government incentives increasingly favor wind along with other renewable energy sources. The business thesis sees companies increasingly adopting ESG guidelines, often pushed into doing so by big banks, pension funds and mainstream institutional investors like BlackRock Inc.
Read MoreWith the Earth having warmed a full degree Celsius since 1900, companies, environmentalists, and investors have gotten behind the idea that we can suck carbon out of the air with machines — although not everyone is buying in.
Read MoreAs data centers around the world hum in their processing of nearly uncountable amounts of information, they are doing more than categorizing and storing. They are generating heat. Lots of it.
Read MoreGreen chemistry focuses on using renewable feedstock and innovative processes, increasing efficiency, and reducing waste to design less-hazardous syntheses and minimize their environmental footprint.
Read MoreAre Plant-Based Protein the Sustainable Alternative? From Legumes to 'Shrooms, consumers have more green protein options and veganism, vegetarianism and flexitarianism are all on the rise. If you’re like many consumers, you’ve eaten more peas and soy in the past few years than you ever would have imagined.
Read MoreOur problems with the petroleum product go way beyond the visual pollution of shredded bags in trees or mountains of the stuff in landfills. Making this material — which shapes our lives to a degree that some say we are living in the Plastics Age — is a dirty process, as it contributes vast amounts of greenhouse gasses.
Read MoreOne solution to the aviation industry’s growing emissions problem that may be in reach is alternative jet fuels. Often called SAF for sustainable aviation fuel, they are made from corn, waste and other feedstock, typically blended with regular jet fuel, and may be a transitional solution the industry and the planet desperately need.
While food waste is seen as negative consequence of our consumer culture, it’s also harming the environment, with estimates that it’s responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Opportunities to manage food waste using digital technologies and business-model innovations are growing, as evidenced by the increasing numbers of solutions to reduce waste.
The planet is losing soil 10-to-40 times faster than it is naturally replenished. Among farmers’ tools like harvesters and irrigation systems are soil amendments, also known as conditioners. Farmers, and gardeners, add amendments to boost soil’s water retention, permeability, drainage, aeration and structure.
Lightweighting — building with light, engineered materials like carbon fibers to cut fuel consumption – is seen as a valuable tool in cutting CO2 output and bringing climate change under control. Lightweight materials are used in all modes of transportation, from ships to rail to flight.
Read MoreThe beverage sector grapples with multiple challenges in the impact space including production waste, packaging materials, water usage and the sustainability of its supply chain and process inputs. Established firms like Coca-Cola Company as well as start-ups, are financing improvements in these areas.
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