100 billion gadgets will have better sustainable design by 2015

The "triple bottom line" is coming to a gadget near you.

The largest electronics companies are moving to improve sustainability practices with regard to their products, which will lead to more than 100 billion gadgets on the market by 2015 that incorporate sustainable design, according to Pike Research.

In a new report, Pike outlines how new electronics will incorporate more tenets of sustainability -- with improved economic, environmental and social impact.

That includes:

• More sustainable design.
• Raw materials extraction.
• Improved manufacturing and distribution practices.
• Better end-of-life management.

The sustainability movement is pushing strong growth through the electronics supply chain, and Pike forecasts that sustainability will touch nearly double the amount of gadgets -- 103 billion by 2015 -- as it does now, approx. 68 billion in 2010.

The sustainability push starts with the semiconductor and component sector, which represents more than 95 percent of total unit volume in the electronics industry.

In fact, the computing industry carries the highest percentage impact of sustainability programs, Pike says.

Pike also listed leaders in each sector.

They are:

• Computers: Hewlett-Packard, Dell
• IT services: IBM, Computer Sciences Corp.
• Networking equipment: Cisco Systems, Motorola
• Telecommunications: AT&T, Verizon
• Semiconductors and components: Intel, Jabil Circuit
• Home entertainment: Samsung, Sony

The main theme here: significant revenue -- not just savings -- is to be had by implementing sustainable practices.

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com