In the face of rapidly accelerating climate change, sustainability is one of the key concerns for businesses across the globe. The UK aims to reach Net Zero by 2050, and the pressure for companies in every industry to respond continues to grow.
A recent Gartner report found that 92% of business owners are increasing their investment in sustainable resources, with 36% pursuing a Net Zero goal. Greener ways of working are becoming a priority. This is thanks to social pressure from business customers and international legislation.
It is a common misconception that sustainability mainly concerns industrial, energy, or transportation businesses – as these are the biggest producers of CO2 globally. In reality, technological and digital companies have responsibilities too.
A report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) found that the top 150 tech companies were responsible for 1.6% of global electricity production – a figure that cannot be ignored.
Significant changes must be made to bring this figure down. Transitioning to more renewable energy sources is the first and most important step.
Digital companies are not simply contributors to climate change, and it is not just a case of reducing their carbon footprint. Instead, they have the potential to improve the situation for the whole planet – and with this potential comes responsibility.
Digital technology has been identified as a key player in reducing greenhouse emissions and keeping the UK on track for the 2050 Net Zero target. In fact, a report published by the World Economic Forum found that the key industries of energy, materials, and mobility can reduce their emissions by 4-10% by 2030 and 20% by 2050 by further investing in digital tech.
Digital companies can accelerate sustainable alternatives
In many cases, digital companies provide the services and products that are helping other businesses go green. Some examples of these tools include:
Video conferencing
Large file transfer services
Remote equipment monitoring
Secure data sharing platforms
eBike apps
And much more
These services all enable businesses and consumers alike to cut down on critical CO2 production activities like transportation and face-to-face meetings. They connect dispersed workforces and allow for remote maintenance of equipment.
What’s more, artificial intelligence is fast developing as a means of uncovering and managing new green opportunities.
The short answer is: yes.
The sustainability of digital businesses affects everyone.
With so much power and potential in the hands of digital businesses to make a real difference, their eco-responsibility is significant. The solutions that they provide must be built on a sustainable foundation – in doing this, they can offer services with an eco-friendly guarantee to their customers and tap into a concern that has the whole world gripped.
Then the first step is to have an honest appraisal of where you are. And the best way to do that is with sustainability accreditations, which we can help you achieve through our Sustainability Impact Reports.
Our SIR reports measure and evaluate your organisation’s environmental impact, providing you with a comprehensive picture of where you are now and what you need to reach your sustainability goals.
We’ll also help you develop strategies and put processes in place that make a sizable difference to your business’s environmental, economic and social impacts.
