Technology plays a significant role in an organisation's environmental footprint. A sustainable approach can help reduce waste, improve efficiency, support ESG objectives and enable more informed technology decisions.
Carbon emissions from manufacturing and energy usage Electronic waste generation Resource depletion from raw material extraction
Reduced operating costs Improved energy efficiency Better asset utilisation Reduced procurement spend
Increased reporting requirements Supply chain transparency expectations Customer and investor scrutiny
Supporting sustainability ambitions through measurable progress and long-term commitments
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John Gladstone
Sustainability Lead, Softcat
What are Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions?
Scope 1 emissions come directly from sources an organisation owns or controls, such as company vehicles and on-site fuel use.
Scope 2 emissions come from purchased energy, including electricity used in offices and data centres.
Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions across the value chain, such as supplier activities, manufacturing, logistics and product usage.
How do I measure IT carbon emissions?
Measuring IT carbon emissions starts with understanding the environmental impact of your technology estate, including devices, infrastructure, data centres and cloud services. The right tools and data can help organisations establish a baseline and identify opportunities for improvement.
What is the difference between Net Zero and carbon neutral?
Carbon neutral means balancing emissions by reducing them where possible and offsetting the remainder. Net Zero goes further by significantly reducing emissions across operations and the supply chain before addressing any remaining emissions through removal or offsetting initiatives.
What is embodied vs operational carbon?
Embodied carbon refers to emissions created during the manufacture, transportation and disposal of technology equipment. Operational carbon refers to emissions generated while technology is being used, such as energy consumed by devices, servers and data centres.
How can we reduce the environmental impact of our IT estate?
Organisations can reduce their impact by extending device lifecycles, improving energy efficiency, adopting circular economy principles, choosing sustainable suppliers and making more informed technology purchasing decisions.
What should we look for in a sustainable IT supplier?
Look for suppliers that demonstrate clear sustainability commitments, transparent reporting, recognised certifications, circular economy initiatives and a proven approach to reducing environmental impact across their operations and supply chains.
What do sustainability ratings like EcoVadis and CDP mean?
Sustainability ratings help organisations assess and benchmark environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. Frameworks such as EcoVadis and CDP provide insight into how businesses are managing sustainability risks, reporting progress and meeting sustainability objectives.
What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and why does it matter?
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impact of a product throughout its entire lifecycle, from raw materials and manufacturing to use and disposal. It helps organisations make more informed decisions about the sustainability of their technology investments.
We can help you assess your current approach, identify opportunities for improvement and build a more sustainable technology strategy.
