The Global E-Waste Monitor estimates that global e-waste production will reach 82 billion kg by 2030, as per its Nov 2024 edition. This is a significant rise of almost 141% from the 34 billion kg of e-waste generated in 2010. The study also provides insight that the e-waste generated is five times faster than the rate at which it is collected and recycled. A key driver of this surge is the growing reliance on technology with an increased demand for newer modern devices. The shortened device refresh cycle further adds to the problem, leading to an ever-increasing volume of discarded electronics / IT assets.

The rapid growth of e-waste and its environmental impact presents significant sustainability challenges at a global scale. In light of this, it becomes more important than before to adopt Green IT practices to promote sustainability, minimize the impact, and reduce harmful Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG).

Green IT or Green Computing, as one may refer to is a sustainable practice for designing, manufacturing, utilizing, disposing, and recycling computing devices. It requires adopting and implementing strategies that reduce the overall environmental impact of IT assets, such as using energy-efficient products, extending device lifespan through reuse, using renewable energy sources, or engaging in responsible recycling, amongst others.

Sustainability means utilizing natural resources in a responsible manner that helps fulfill today’s needs without compromising the future. Green IT practices follow a multidiscipline approach that requires meticulous planning and execution to get the optimal results. Let’s explore a few of these practices and understand how they help drive sustainability.

1. Energy Efficient Infrastructure: Investing in Energy Star and Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) rated equipment can significantly reduce the energy requirements of IT infrastructure. These products conform to the highest sustainability standards and are designed to be energy efficient, with smart power management features such as power savings mode or auto sleep that reduces energy consumption during periods of latency.

2. Using Renewable Energy Resources: Organizations need to adopt sustainable renewable energy, including solar power, wind energy, and hydroelectricity, for their business needs. The 2024 environmental report from Google reveals that Carbon-Free Energy powers 64% of all Google data centers, while some specific regions have achieved 90% usage. Google has successfully cut down its GHG emissions and reduced detrimental environmental impact.

3. Extending Device Lifespan: Extending device lifespan through refurbishing, upgrading, or reusing helps reduce GHG emissions that are generated during the manufacturing and transportation of new devices. This further also helps bridge the digital divide through device donation. Businesses can reuse devices without worrying about data security by using trusted data wiping solutions to sanitize the media before devices are redeployed.

4. Cloud Storage & Virtualization: Transitioning to an energy-efficient cloud setup helps reduce the overall energy consumption as compared to data stored on legacy storage systems. Nowadays, data centers are switching to energy-efficient cooling systems and are transitioning towards high-efficiency, superior thermal conductivity Gallium Nitride Semiconductors. Further, virtualization is reducing the need for physical machines by hosting multiple virtual machines on a single physical system. This drastically brings down the infrastructure needs of a business and its subsequent energy requirements.

5. Responsible Recycling: E-waste recycling forms an essential component of Green Computing by focusing on proper disposal. The hazardous elements found in e-waste, such as lead, mercury, and beryllium, together with cadmium, will leak into landfills when improperly discarded. The waste materials penetrate the soil where they cause contamination of the land surface. The discharge of harmful vapors by these items, along with their contamination of water sources, directly harms the physical well-being of all living things.

Organizations can take the services of Certified IT Asset Disposition companies that handle end-of-life IT assets in a responsible manner. ITADs can recover usable components from malfunctioning IT devices during disposal. Professional ITAD organizations separate commercial valuable metals and then use them to create new equipment while implementing proper methods to eliminate potentially harmful substances. IT asset managers should refer to established best practices in IT Asset Disposal.

These are a few ways that Green IT practices help drive sustainability. Organizations implementing these strategies not only reduce the generation of e-waste but also reduce their energy dependency and carbon footprint.

The world is moving towards a sustainable future, and it has become crucial that organizations adopt Green IT practices. It is no longer just a way to look environmentally conscious but it has become an effective marketing tool, as consumers prefer building a relationship with companies that prioritize sustainable practices. By investing in energy-efficient infrastructure, embracing renewable energy, extending device lifespan, leveraging cloud computing, and ensuring responsible e-waste recycling, businesses can significantly reduce their environmental footprint.