The Internet has an important role in promoting sustainable consumption in two respects: firstly, the vast majority of consumers use the Internet to obtain information about products and services; secondly, more and more consumers are buying products online. Search engine providers, comparison portals and online shops play a central role as "information brokers" and "gatekeepers" between consumers and producers to promote sustainable consumption. Despite the central importance of information regarding sustainability on the internet, these opportunities have so far hardly been used by providers.
The project aims to develop an innovative idea concept to promote sustainable consumption in search engines, comparison portals and online shops. Data-driven technologies and procedures of artificial intelligence play a key role in making sustainable consumption as easy as possible. The key levers include, for example, algorithms for search queries and product suggestions, energy efficiency, eco-labels or filter settings for "green" products (green by default). The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
Further information on the project can be found here.