Digital products are getting smarter and more energy intensive, and AI is accelerating that trend. Many teams are now asking how to design responsibly while still moving fast. In that context, Sustainable UX is shifting from a nice-to-have to a practical necessity.

In a recent end-of-2025 members call with Thorsten Jonas, we explored the latest developments shaping the Sustainable UX Network as it moves towards 2026. Thorsten is known for using memorable quotes to anchor complex topics, and he left us with a fitting one by Jane Goodall, a long-standing environmental advocate known for her work on the relationship between humans and the natural world.

“Just remember that every day you live, you make an impact on the planet.”

As sustainability pressures grow and AI reshapes the digital landscape, the network is gaining momentum around shared methods, tools, and collaborations that help organisations make sustainability a natural part of everyday design work.

As a long-time digital sustainability activist, responsible AI evangelist, and founder of the SUX Network, Thorsten combined reflection with practical direction. The session helped clarify not just why Sustainable UX matters, but how teams can start acting on it more consistently.