Understanding Digital Sustainability

Jade Burnett
Nov 21
2 min read

What is Digital Sustainability?

Simply put, it is what we can do to reduce our impact on the planet's resources, not just at work, but in all areas of our lives.

Digital imprint is often overlooked because it does not create visible pollution; however, it is responsible for around 4% of Global Carbon emissions.

What do we mean by 'digital'?

Digital falls into two main categories: physical digital products, such as laptops, phones, and TVs, and digital data, including webpages, photos, emails, videos, and software. As a society, we consume digital products and data at an unsustainable rate. Around 90% of digital data is not utilised; it is collected and stored, occupying space and contributing to the growing amount of wasted energy.

What is the solution?

It would be unreasonable to return to life in the pre-digital age; however, we can collectively become more conscious of our digital footprint and take steps to reduce our impact. Here are some easy ways you can help.

Digital detox: Delete unused content from your devices and from the cloud.
Repair and maintain: Keep your devices longer by taking care of your handsets and physical devices. When you are ready for a new device, consider a reconditioned device.
Switch off and unplug: When you are not using devices, power them down and switch off from the mains outlet. You could also start setting aside time without digital distractions and spend time on non-tech-related hobbies.
Reduce Video Content: Turn off your camera during online meetings unless you're speaking, stream less video content, and limit the time spent on apps.
Reduce your use of AI: AI can be a helpful tool for finding data-driven insights, but it consumes approximately 25% more energy than a Google search, and the majority of AI usage comes from people using it to create digital representations of their pets as humans. Be conscious of what we do online and consider whether there is a genuine need to make that content.