This week, Field Notes looks at the explosive growth of the Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, market. With a valuation projected to more than double by 2033, GIS is no longer just about “mapping,” but has become the critical intersection of AI, IoT and urban resilience.
Milliken & Company’s latest sustainability report reveals how aggressive decarbonization and worker safety can go hand-in-hand with global growth. Finally, Sourcing Journal turns to the escalating tensions in international commerce, as a coalition of advocacy groups calls on the U.S. Trade Representative to challenge discriminatory digital policies in Asia that threaten American innovation.
GIS Goes Big, Real Big
The global GIS market is set for a decade of aggressive expansion, with a new report from Research and Markets forecasting a surge from $14.27 billion in 2025 to a staggering $32.04 billion by 2033.
This trajectory represents a compound annual growth rate of 10.64 percent, fueled largely by an intensifying demand for sophisticated spatial data analytics. Industry leaders such as Trimble Inc., Autodesk Inc. and Bentley Systems are spearheading this movement, providing the technical backbone for critical advancements in urban planning, infrastructure development and resource management across public and private sectors.
Beyond traditional mapping, the industry is undergoing a high-tech evolution through the integration of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and the Internet of Things, or IoT. These synergies are enabling unprecedented real-time monitoring and predictive capabilities, which are becoming indispensable for disaster management, environmental conservation, and the burgeoning “smart city” movement.
As global digital transformation accelerates, the shift toward mobile-based GIS and high-fidelity 3D mapping is transforming how industries like agriculture and defense operate, cementing GIS as a cornerstone of modern, data-driven policy planning and operational efficiency.
Milliken & Company Advances ESG Goals in Eighth Annual Sustainability Report
Milliken & Company has officially released its 2025 Sustainability Report, marking nearly a decade of consecutive reporting on the organization’s environmental, social and governance milestones.
Similar to prior reports, the company said this year’s document highlights a year defined by significant gains in workplace safety, aggressive decarbonization efforts and the continued integration of circularity into the company’s core business model.
A primary pillar of the 2025 results is a marked improvement in associate well-being, the company said. Milliken reported a 39 percent year-over-year reduction in its safety severity rate, alongside a matching 39 percent decrease in days lost due to work-related injuries. The company’s leadership attributes these gains to a sustained investment in safety management systems and deep associate engagement across its global operations.
“Sustainability is a core value at Milliken, and in 2025 our global teams continued to turn that commitment into action,” said Halsey Cook, president and chief executive officer of Milliken, in a statement. Cook emphasized that the company remains focused on building a “resilient business” that creates a positive impact for future generations through responsible innovation.
On the environmental front, Milliken noted substantial progress toward its science-based greenhouse gas emissions targets, which are verified by the Science Based Targets initiative, or SBTi. Since its 2018 base year, the company said it has achieved a 47 percent reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
This progress is backed by a capital investment of more than $35 million, aimed at coal elimination, energy efficiency and renewable electricity. To address Scope 3 emissions, the company said it has leaned into supplier engagement and the expansion of life cycle assessments through digital tools, which allows for more data-driven decision-making for its customers.
Meanwhile, the company’s innovation pipeline also reflected its sustainability priorities this year. Notable advancements included the development of non-PFAS fabrics designed for firefighter protection and the expansion of flooring reuse initiatives.
Kasel Knight, executive vice president and head of sustainability, noted that strong governance and credible data are the essential engines driving these real-world impacts. Knight said the 2025 report reflects a disciplined approach to accountability and risk management.
These efforts continue to earn Milliken high marks from international evaluators. In 2025, the company secured an EcoVadis Gold rating for the fourth year in a row and maintained its long-standing reputation for integrity by being named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 19th consecutive year.
A Call for Better Trade Practices
On the global trade front, frustrations over various policies are boiling over. In the response, the Consumer Choice Center has led a coalition of 20 organizations who sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, urging his office to prioritize discriminatory digital trade practices across Asia in forthcoming Section 301 investigations.
Last month, the U.S. Trade Representative initiated new Section 301 investigations into multiple countries in regard to industrial overcapacity, manufacturing trade imbalances and forced labor practices. The goal is to determine if unfair trade practices harm U.S. commerce, which can potentially result in new tariffs.
The letter warns that nations such as South Korea, Japan, India and China are increasingly adopting EU-style regulations, data mandates and aggressive enforcement to target U.S. tech firms while protecting local and Chinese rivals. These barriers ultimately hurt consumers who rely on American-led innovation in AI, e-commerce, cloud computing, and mobile services.
USTR ambassador Jamieson Greer’s office could not be reached for comment. This week, the U.S. trade representative is testifying before the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on Trump policies.
Yaël Ossowski, deputy director of the Consumer Choice Center, said in a statement that consumers around the world “benefit when American technology companies can compete freely and fairly. When governments in Asia single out American firms for punitive regulation while giving their domestic competitors a free pass, it’s consumers who pay the price — through fewer choices, higher costs and less innovation.”
Signatories who signed the letter include: Consumer Choice Center, 60 Plus Association, Advancing American Freedom, American Association of Senior Citizens, Americans for Tax Reform, Center for a Free Economy, Center for Freedom and Prosperity, Center for Individual Freedom, Digital Liberty, Frontiers of Freedom, Innovation Economy Alliance, Institute for Policy Innovation, James Madison Institute, Market Institute, Pelican Institute, Property Rights Alliance, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Trade Alliance to Promote Prosperity and US-Asia Fair Market Alliance.
