Data centers have been the focus of a lot of well-deserved criticism for their huge carbon footprint. They account for about 40 percent of overall IT emissions. Recent assessments have uncovered a truth that’s just as alarming—devices are actually making the problem worse! They account for 60 percent of overall IT emissions. This focus on the environmental footprint of data centers emphasizes the need to have a deeper understanding of their environmental impact. It also emphasizes the impact of the devices they fund.
An overreliiousness at the data paints a rosier picture than intended. Data centers are often thought to be the key culprits of IT emissions. They only contribute to 24 percent of the overall emissions. By sharp contrast, end-user devices worldwide produce 1.5 – 2x the amount of carbon than all data centers combined. This eye-opening announcement deserves to be a moment for reflection and a recalibration of where we focus sustainability resources across the technology sector.
The Embodied Carbon Challenge
In fact, a big part of device emissions happen at the moment of manufacturing, in a process called embodied carbon. About 75 percent of device emissions come from this phase, which is considerably unaddressed in today’s reporting standards. It currently takes around 50 kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) to make a single smartphone. Conversely, laptops have a comparable embodied carbon cost that is several orders of magnitude higher, at approximately 200 kg CO2e.
Each year, 1 billion people upgrade their smartphones. This huge number results in a shocking 50 million tonnes of CO2e emissions per year. This points to the critical imperative for manufacturers to address embodied carbon within their production practices. Initiatives like GreenSKUs demonstrate that an 8 percent reduction in embodied carbon is achievable, but more aggressive strategies are necessary to address the climate crisis effectively.
There is one policy that would have an even greater environmental impact. Extending the lifecycle of our smartphones. Holding on to devices three years rather than two potentially cuts annual manufacturing emissions by a third. In reality, it might even cause an increase of 33 percent. This small shift would be a huge move in the direction of addressing the collective carbon footprint tied up in devices.
Data Center Efficiency and Industry Standards
Given their massive scope, Google’s data centers really are impressive for their efficiency. They run at 1.5 X the energy efficiency of the industry average. Despite this stunningly high level of performance, there remains significant opportunity for improvement across the industry. Even with these progressions, data center embodied carbon makes up just 16 percent of overall emissions from facilities.
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) further complicates the reporting landscape. It requires that 11,700 of those companies report their emissions following established protocols. Alarmingly, these frameworks cover just 30 percent of emissions from the IT sector. This shows we have to create more expansive metrics immediately. These metrics must account for operational and embodied carbon for both devices and data centers.
In response to this gap, the United States standards body ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 39 is currently revising its standards for IT sustainability metrics through 2026. This update gives organizations more guidance than ever before. It will give them a better understanding of how to measure their emissions and develop impactful emission reduction practices.
The Future of IT Sustainability
As you all know, technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. Businesses and consumers alike have a better understanding of the contributions devices and data centers make to total emissions. AI workloads will consume from 6.7 to 12 percent of total U.S. electricity by 2028. Yet this projection creates an immediate imperative for us to ensure sustainable practices in both industries.
In addition to operational efficiency in the data centers that power our computing, organizations need to care about sustainable manufacturing practices for devices. They must engage in thorough assessments of their entire supply chain to identify areas where emissions can be reduced, particularly during the production phase.
Consumer behavior is starting to have a huge impact on the future of IT sustainability. Convincing consumers of the environmental costs of constantly upgrading devices, as well as encouraging longer device lifecycles would go a long way. By taking proactive steps and adopting a more sustainable approach, consumers have the power to lower the carbon footprint connected to their electronics.