Digital Sobriety: how to reduce the environmental impact of digital usage? 

Tensions linked to competing uses are already materializing, both in upstream digital equipment manufacturing activities, (eg.: droughts in 2021 and 2022 in Taiwan, and Soitec sites in denouncing the “water grab” by electronics manufacturers), and in terms of data center consumption (e.g.: water consumption at a Microsoft data center made headlines in the Netherlands in the summer of 2022).

A hot topic, as companies increasingly focus on sustainable sourcing strategies. Central to this is the development of decarbonization roadmaps specifically tailored to procurement, including IT services. These strategies aim to reduce GHG emissions across the entire supply chain, playing a crucial role in meeting climate targets. Procurement is key in selecting environmentally friendly suppliers and integrating sustainable practices throughout the sourcing process.

CIOs face the challenge of remaining cost-efficient despite the pressure to transform. The Gartner 2024 CIO and Technology Executive Survey predicts an increase in IT budgets of 2.4% to 5.2%, which is barely above the expected inflation rates of 2.4% to 7.4%. This situation calls for an increased focus on efficiency and innovation in the IT sector.

Purchasing decisions in companies are in general increasingly influenced by how “green” a company is. According to the Wavestone 2024 CSR Barometer, 88% of companies declare their CSR strategy is influenced by their customers. In France, for example 53% of ages 18-24 would choose a brand Involved In environment protection (43% all ages) . This pressure point creates a chain effect within the company that also influences IT departments.

In the intense competition for skilled talent, sustainability serves as a genuine competitive advantage for IT departments. Increasingly, individuals, particularly in Generation Z, seek purpose in their careers, where climate neutrality and future-oriented thinking are essential factors.

Reducing the environmental impact of IT starts with user devices. Contrary to popular belief, user devices like laptops, smartphones, and monitors account for 65-90% of the digital carbon footprint – much more than data centers. This can be explained by the following factors: The average lifespan of end user devices in companies can be increased (as it has been done in France in recent years, from 3-4 years on average to 5 years currently in organizations). Worldwide, there are around 34 billion end devices for 4.1 billion users, which indicates a significant surplus.

Extending the lifespan of these devices is key to immediate emissions reductions. Refurbishing and reconditioning devices instead of disposing of them as electronic waste (WEEE) can also significantly cut down on emissions.  This is important as the recycling of digital devices is very limited due to the low concentration of metals and the difficulty of recycling alloys. Companies can also introduce programs that redistribute or sell older computers and smartphones to employees instead of disposing them.

To promote digital sobriety, IT procurement contracts should include Green IT and CSR criteria in accordance with tenders including a significant weight of these criteria (at least 15% and ideally over 20%). CSR and decarbonization considerations should be included in strategic business relationships, procurement processes, and contractual clauses.

The eco-design of digital services available to employees and customers is necessary to reduce the environmental footprint in the medium term and optimize resources throughout the supply chain in the long term. The implementation of eco-design makes it possible to optimize the use of devices, networks, and data centers and avoid unnecessary requirements. This far-reaching change affects both the IT department and the business units and requires a significant change process. All project stakeholders – from designers and developers to suppliers, architects, project managers and operators – need to be involved and trained on how to integrate eco-design into their daily work.

Covers the optimal use of IT infrastructure and data centers, as well as improving the flexibility of services. Key measures include improving the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), extending the lifespan of IT equipment in data centers, and increasing the mutualization rate of IT infrastructure. The geographical location of data centers is also crucial; they should be situated in regions with the lowest possible emissions from the electricity mix. Additionally, implementing GreenOps practices can significantly reduce energy consumption and emissions through more efficient utilization of IT resources. Cloud service providers are a key factor here and should support companies in choosing the best green strategy through transparent methodologies and dedicated carbon footprint tools.

Awareness anchored in the corporate culture is essential for the success of the digital sobriety. This means that all employees of a company must be sensitized to adapt their behavior and actively contribute to emissions efficiency. This should be a joint effort between CSR teams and IT departments. On the one hand, all employees need to understand why digital sobriety is important and how they can contribute to reducing the environmental footprint in their everyday lives. This requires awareness programs such as “Digital Collage” as well as training measures that raise awareness of sustainable practices. On the other hand, it is equally important that all IT stakeholders within the IT department – including IT buyers, developers, architects and project managers – receive targeted training. This training should address specific IT-related topics, such as the integration of Green IT criteria into procurement processes or the optimization of IT infrastructure.

In addition to general training courses, specialized offerings such as MOOCs, special workshops and certifications on digital sobriety can help to build expertise and provide concrete instructions for action. Comprehensive awareness education and training at both levels – company-wide and within IT departments – are crucial for bringing about a lasting change in corporate culture and successfully implementing the digital transformation.