Now the company reuses effluent from its brewing process for community needs such as irrigation, as inputs to other industrial processes, and as fire and dust suppression, implementing these innovations at five facilities in China, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia.

Cost Inhibits Innovation

When great innovations fail to be implemented, it’s likely because of cost, points out Gary Lawrence, chief sustainability officer and VP of AECOM Technology Corp.

There is a “preponderance of great innovations we have failed to implement…  despite compelling evidence that they provide elegant solutions to complex problems,” he wrote in an EL article.

The cost argument is shortsighted and misleading, he believes. The consideration of cost generally centers on the upfront cost of designing and building – and when that cost seems prohibitive, projects falter. Instead, companies should go on to consider the opportunity cost.

Justin Grau, senior engineer with ConAgra Foods, agrees. “The biggest trend I see in sustainable initiatives is the need for rebates to make projects economical,” he says. “Unfortunately, the costs of implementing new technologies is still too high for many companies to justify without some form of rebate… For locations that have the opportunity to take advantage of rebates, I see more effort and projects being implemented, resulting in a more sustainable facility and – in many cases – increased reliability.”

In order for new developments in sustainability to be implemented, innovators need to look at producing things that companies can afford, and not just something that looks good on paper, Grau says.

Real innovation is disruptive, but companies like these – that are reimagining products, processes, and models – are finding true transformation.

This article is sponsored by Procter & Gamble.