As a Chief Sustainability Officer, I have witnessed firsthand this transition—and the challenges and opportunities that come with it—at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and culture in the tech sector. I couldn’t be more convinced of the stealth role of IT in the twin agendas of digital transformation and decarbonisation.
In my work, I have seen colleagues in technical roles who often do not see themselves or their work as central to achieving sustainability goals. Many people in technical roles assume that sustainability is someone else’s job – a job for environmental departments or corporate leaders. There is often a perception that they can do very little.
But what if the data centers that power our digital age become leaders in sustainability? What if IT teams held the key to decarbonization?
IT professionals and tech leaders have a tremendous opportunity to make a real impact. The software systems and infrastructure they manage are at the heart of what can make or break sustainability efforts in an organization today. Yet, they are also important for future resilience strategies. Recognizing this critical role is key to unlocking the transformative potential of IT-enabled sustainability.
An urgent need for an IT-driven approach to sustainability
IT practitioners are uniquely positioned to lead the charge in sustainability for their organizations because of the transformative potential of the technologies they create and deploy.
Consider our reliance on data centers. These on-prem, hybrid and cloud powerhouses of the digital age are also significant consumers of energy. Without a sustainability strategy, data centers stand to dwarf the airline industry in the scale and scope of their carbon footprint. As we continue to generate more data, energy demand only increases.
Yet this challenge represents a significant opportunity for IT. By taking advantage of the progress Artificial intelligencemachine learning, and data analytics can help an IT organization optimize energy use, reduce waste, and improve the overall efficiency of enterprise IT operations. For example, AI-powered sustainability dashboards – such as NetApp’s BlueXP Sustainability Dashboards – are already helping businesses in their quest. Carbon emissions And set realistic, actionable goals for reduction.
As this example shows, prioritizing the deployment and sustainability of smart tech solutions isn’t necessarily prescriptive either. Instead, the call to action should strive for the “Goldilocks Zone” – the solution that is just right. We transform by enabling organizations to take a smarter approach to data, dramatically reduce their carbon footprints, transition to renewable energy, and implement the energy-efficient solutions necessary for a sustainable IT future. Can present effects.
See: Everything you need to know about Greentech.
Circularity again in IT purchasing
However, sustainability is not just about energy efficiency. It’s also about rethinking how we design, build and dispose of our technology.
Besides energy, another important aspect of IT-enabled sustainability is enabling a circular business model. A circular economy is a system where resources are reused, recycled and reused, reducing waste and reducing the environmental impact of products. The traditional linear “take, make, dispose” model is no longer viable in a world with limited resources.
Again, this challenge presents an opportunity: to design and build digital infrastructure for the future by prioritizing innovation and product development goals aimed at reducing, reusing, and reusing materials throughout the product lifecycle. And to recycle.
The tech industry has developed in this area over the years, as “design for environment” is not a new concept. Advances in hardware design now focus on modularity and recyclability, ensuring that devices can be easily upgraded, repaired and recycled. This change reduces the environmental impact of e-waste and creates new business opportunities in the circular economy.
But companies can do more. Organizations can make circularity a design principle in engineering and take action to bake it into product operations. For example, NetApp has prioritized designing products with long lifespans, using recycled materials, and implementing take-back programs that ensure responsible disposal and recycling of our products. This strategy supports a more sustainable ecosystem and invests in the growing demand for responsible technology.
See: Google’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Increase 48% Since 2019, Thanks to AI Pursuit
Mapping the Sustainability and IT Agenda
The intersection of IT and sustainability is full of possibilities for organizations committed to meeting and exceeding their sustainability goals. IT professionals can make an impact in their organizations and lead the way in building a sustainable future by:
However, enabling a sustainability innovation agenda in IT requires more than just technology – it requires a change in mindset. We must recognize that sustainability is not a separate initiative or compliance function, but an opportunity for IT to add business value, enhance resilience and enable long-term success. Sustainability-driven IT decisions will affect sustainability today and for generations to come.
IT practitioners are no strangers to change. By stepping up as sustainability leaders today, they have a unique opportunity to make a real-world difference – not just for their companies, but for the planet.
Nicola Acutt NetApp, Inc. I am the Chief Sustainability Officer, with over 20 years of experience in business, technology, and sustainability. Previously, she was Chief Sustainability Officer at VMware, leading a team of 30 people. Nicola has worked in business, government, academia, and nonprofits, including roles at Presidio Graduate School and Common Ground Consulting. He holds a BS from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. from the University of East Anglia.