Sustainability in the metaverse

According to a survey by Wunderman Thompson Data for Wunderman Thompson Intelligence, 86% of respondents expect businesses to play a part in solving big challenges such as climate change; 88% believe that sustainability should be a standard business practice; and 89% believe brands should do a lot more to reduce their carbon impact. Now, consumer attention towards sustainable practices is blending into the digital realm, where brands entering the metaverse must also do their part to maintain eco-friendly platforms and meet sustainable goals; 71% of people who know what the metaverse is say brands need to be thinking about the environmental impact of the metaverse. We’re highlighting some of the companies, platforms, and marketplaces that are bringing sustainable practices into the metaverse.

Blockchains

Tezos is an energy-efficient Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain. It offers an environmentally-friendly alternative to standard blockchains, with scalable, secure open-source code on which platforms can build games, apps, and NFTs with shorter transaction times and reduced carbon footprints.
EOSIO is an eco-friendly blockchain that offers carbon-neutral minting. It runs on an energy-efficient PoS algorithm that doesn’t encourage server farms to mine constantly.

NFT marketplaces

Abris.io is a sustainable NFT marketplace built on the carbon-negative blockchain Algorand. Customers can mint, sell, and purchase NFTs on the platform, host events in the metaverse and offers crypto payment support.
KodaDot runs on a low carbon blockchain called Kusama.network and aims to eventually become a carbon negative gallery in a way to drive global forestation. It is host to an NFT gallery that prioritizes sustainability for its creators and offers a platform where artists can offset their minted carbon footprints.

Big brands

Gucci accepts payments from a sustainable crypto solution built on the XRP Ledger: the world’s first major global carbon neutral blockchain. Ripple, the payments service, aims to achieve carbon net zero by 2030. Ripple leaders are co-founders and active members of the Crypto Climate Accord and WEF’s Crypto Impact and Sustainability Initiative.
Gucci also created an NFT collection with Superplastic, a carbon-neutral digital collectibles creation platform. SuperGucci dropped its first round of ultra-limited NFTs in February.
Burberry dropped its latest NFT collection on Blankos Block Party, which does not require any crypto mining. The “Sharky B” NFTs launched in June, and are also hosted on a private EOSIO blockchain.

Intelligence take

Sustainability doesn’t stop in the metaverse. As brands in all industries take their first steps into the metaverse, they must address and counteract the carbon footprint of their digital platforms. Whether companies decide to use eco-friendly blockchains or balance their carbon footprint with greener platforms, there are many approaches brands can take to enter the metaverse sustainably.

Main image courtesy of Gucci x Superplastic.