We live in an era where climate change, sustainable development, and responsibility have become central topics of discussion. Companies worldwide have started to examine their operations from a new perspective, aiming to meet the growing pressure to fulfill Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

My background in business and service development, particularly in the development of digital services in recent years, has taught me much about how companies must adapt to a changing environment and meet the needs of their customers. More and more companies are realizing that sustainability work is no longer just about calculating and offsetting carbon footprints. It’s a strategy and a desire to create a positive impact on the world and fix what we have broken.

In the development of digital services, I became aware of the significant impact they have on sustainability. The emissions from information and communication technology (ICT) are equivalent to that of air travel. Imagine that!

So, is it time to change how we develop services? Yes.

From reporting to disrupting service development

It's great that reports are in good shape, and changes to operations have been made. However, the next step must be taken.

The next step is to understand the impact of the services your company provides and to develop them in a new way. What lifestyle does the service your company offers represent? Is it sustainable? Can consumers continue the same lifestyle? And here we get to the core question: can we change the world without changing the services we develop, as services either take us further away from or towards a sustainable life?

Companies can play a key role in this change and enable a more sustainable lifestyle. The change requires an understanding of the kind of lifestyle we want to build and the steps to achieve it.

How to create services that are good for both people and our planet?

This is where a new direction in design and service development comes into play: planet-centric design and development. At the core of planet-centric development is the realization that service development cannot be solely human-centric, user-centric, or customer-centric, as it has fortunately been in recent years. We’ve enjoyed fantastic services, but without understanding their impact on the big picture.

In my keynotes, I ask people to raise their hands when I ask, "Are you living your life meaningfully, just as you would like?" and only a few raise their hands. So, we still need more human-centric service development that delves deeper into humanity and away from a fast-food-style lifestyle. The world is not cherishing deep humanity, yet.

In planet-centric development, in addition to humans, other non-human stakeholders are taken into account, and their systemic nature is understood. What would a service look like whose social, economic, and environmental impacts are entirely transparent and that brings you a good life? What does a good life look like to you? This is what is designed through planet-centric development.

There must be a change in service development because only through this change can we alter our consumption habits and lean towards a more humane future. It requires a change in the thinking and practices of companies. Change is possible, and we have all the prerequisites for it.

It's not just about companies but also about each one of us. Planet-centric development is the key to a more sustainable and responsible future – it is a step towards a better world for all of us.