When I first started my career in satellite communications, sustainability wasn’t something we talked about much. We were focused on performance, reliability, and getting communications up and running in the most remote places on Earth. Over the years, though, and especially after moving into the robotics industry, I started to see the bigger picture. Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Everything we create has an impact—not just on the people using it, but on the planet we all share.
Today, sustainability is finally becoming a bigger part of the conversation in industries like satellite communications and robotics. And in my opinion, it’s not just a trend. It’s a responsibility we can’t ignore. Sustainable technology solutions aren’t just good for the environment—they’re good for business, good for communities, and good for the future.
Early Lessons in Communication and Connection
Working in satellite communications taught me that technology has the power to connect people in ways that truly matter. Whether it was supporting disaster relief efforts or giving remote workers a lifeline to the outside world, our systems made a real difference. But satellites also come with challenges—especially when it comes to sustainability.
Building, launching, and maintaining satellites uses an enormous amount of resources. And when a satellite reaches the end of its life, it often becomes space debris, floating uselessly in orbit. Early in my career, the industry’s mindset was mostly about getting the job done. It’s only in more recent years that companies have started thinking seriously about how to minimize space junk and make satellite operations greener.
Some companies are now developing satellites designed to burn up completely upon re-entry, or even working on “space tow trucks” that can remove dead satellites from orbit. It’s a small step, but it’s a crucial one. Sustainable communication solutions mean looking not just at how we create connections—but at the long-term impact those connections have on the environment around us, even beyond our atmosphere.
Shifting Gears to Robotics
When I transitioned into the robotics world, the conversation around sustainability was even more urgent. Robotics can be incredibly resource-intensive. From the materials used in manufacturing to the energy needed to run complex machines, the environmental footprint of robotics is something that can’t be ignored.
But robotics also has incredible potential to drive sustainability efforts in other industries. In healthcare, for example, the disinfection robots I worked with reduced the need for chemical cleaners, which in turn reduced chemical waste and improved indoor air quality for patients and staff. That’s a great example of how technology, when used thoughtfully, can create a ripple effect of positive change.
Robots are also being used in agriculture to help monitor crops and reduce pesticide use. In construction, robotic systems are helping to design greener buildings by optimizing energy use. Every field you can imagine is starting to wake up to the idea that technology doesn’t just have to solve problems—it can solve them in ways that are cleaner, smarter, and more responsible.
Building with the Future in Mind
One thing I believe strongly is that sustainability needs to be built into the design process from the very beginning. It’s not enough to create a product and then try to figure out how to make it greener later. Whether it’s a satellite or a robot, we should be asking ourselves early on: How much energy will this use? What materials are we choosing? How long will this last? And what happens to it when it’s no longer needed?
Some of the most exciting innovations I’ve seen recently involve designing products with full life cycles in mind. That means creating technology that’s durable, repairable, and recyclable. It also means thinking about energy efficiency, reducing carbon footprints, and using renewable materials wherever possible.
It’s not always easy. Sometimes it costs more upfront. Sometimes it takes longer. But the long-term payoff—in terms of environmental health, public trust, and even business success—is worth it.
The Human Side of Sustainability
At the heart of all this, for me, is the simple fact that sustainability is about people. It’s about making sure that the communities we serve, and the world we live in, are better off because of the technology we build—not worse.
When I worked as a volunteer advocate for children in difficult circumstances, I saw how fragile and precious our support systems can be. It’s the same with the environment. We can’t take it for granted. The choices we make today in technology and business will shape the world future generations inherit. That’s not something I take lightly.
Sustainability isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s a human one. It’s about health, opportunity, fairness, and quality of life. And it’s up to all of us—especially those of us who work with powerful technologies—to lead by example.
Looking back at my career in satellite communications and robotics, I feel hopeful. We’ve made a lot of mistakes, sure. But we’re learning. We’re getting better at asking the right questions, holding ourselves accountable, and thinking about long-term impacts.
Sustainable technology solutions are not just a nice bonus anymore—they’re essential. They’re the foundation of building a future where innovation and responsibility go hand in hand.
I’m proud to have been part of industries that are waking up to that reality, and I’m excited to see how much further we can go when we put sustainability at the center of what we create.
Because at the end of the day, technology should not just move us forward. It should lift us all up—and leave the world better than we found it.