Technology, digitalization, and sustainability are now more synonymous than ever.
The rapid digital transformation(opens in new tab) that occurred for many companies as a result of the pandemic highlighted the importance of having a good digital transformation strategy to many business leaders.
Now that digital transformation has become a regular part of many business leaders’ daily operations, they face a new challenge: sustainability. When it comes to sustainability, the world is taking steps to drive real change, with the topic being discussed on the global stage at DAVOS and COP27.
Cities are no longer just cities; they are Smart Cities, interconnected and encouraging citizen participation, as well as the establishment of Low Emission Zones (traffic pollution charge schemes with the aim of reducing the exhaust emissions of diesel-powered vehicles). The automotive industry is focusing on electric vehicles (opens in new tab), while local and international governments are passing legislation prohibiting the use of high-polluting vehicles. Companies from a variety of industries are beginning to develop genuine and effective strategies to reduce their carbon footprint. What, however, are the technology companies doing?
The ICT sector is expected to consume 8% of global electricity by 2030, up from 2% in 2020. Similarly, when it comes to data(opens in new tab) storage, it accounts for 10-15% of datacenter energy consumption. On the plus side, by 2025, 49% of data will be stored in public cloud environments, reducing digital waste and energy consumption. However, this is insufficient. Technology firms must do more to combat climate change and reduce our emissions and carbon footprint.
1. Strategy for decarbonisation
For a decarbonization strategy to be effective, businesses must track their own carbon footprint and the amount of greenhouse gases they emit each year, with the goal of setting and meeting a target.
We must encourage our customers to consider data when developing a decarbonization strategy. Data storage, whether in the cloud or on-premises, can contribute significantly to carbon emissions. This is why it is critical for businesses to understand their data, to know what data they require and what data they do not require. Once they have this understanding, they must decide where to store the data. Cloud storage (which opens in a new tab) is intended to store data more efficiently, use less energy, and reduce your carbon footprint. Collaboration with cloud providers is also critical in order to reduce the carbon footprint directly associated with their products and services.
2. Power
It is critical in the technology sector that the facilities and offices used are efficient and environmentally sustainable, utilizing renewable energy, advanced lighting technologies, and reducing the total footprint of the buildings. To achieve our energy efficiency goals, we must consider how to improve or update the design of buildings, laboratories, data centers, offices, and so on.
3. Waste Administration
From a manufacturing standpoint, the main goal for technology companies should be to reduce the amount of material we send to landfills and recycling centers, instead opting for reusable containers. Longer term, we should aim to eliminate the use of non-recyclable materials in our packaging. It is also necessary to take into account electronic waste. Technology companies must be proactive in managing this type of waste, both internally and for customers and partners.
4. Consumption of Water
Instead of using water chillers to reduce water consumption in HVAC systems, cooling units powered by wind energy can be installed on the roofs of buildings.
5. Design of sustainable products and services:
Finally, a sustainable transformation strategy must be integrated into a company’s own business model, ensuring that all products and services now include sustainable components.
It is very simple in the specific sector of data storage. Everything we do on the internet produces carbon dioxide. For example, 68% of data stored by businesses will never be used, and storing it only adds to carbon emissions. In our case, we are increasing our collaboration with customers to determine which data to keep and which to discard, as well as where to store it: public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, or data center.
These are just a few of the elements that any technology firm could use. We can meet the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if we all make small changes. If not, we risk losing a brilliant generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals. The answer is simple: technology and sustainability.
