When the tech sector’s carbon emissions come up, the conversation tends to center on data centers. A new analysis finds that end-user devices are responsible for by far the largest share of total emissions. According to a recent McKinsey report, the findings are sobering—the carbon footprint from devices is 1.5-2 times the carbon output of all data centers combined. In addition, embodied carbon from devices represents 45 percent of total emissions, compared to just 16 percent from data center embodied carbon. That change in attitude will be key to figuring out how we can take advantage of the tech industry to do more and better to fight climate change.
According to this new data, direct data center operations are responsible for just 24 percent of the total emissions. The production of these devices—especially smartphones and laptops—fuels a huge share of their climate impact. The production of one smartphone results in approximately 50 kg CO2e. By comparison, manufacturing one laptop emits about 200 kg of CO2e. These statistics highlight the urgent need to rethink sustainability initiatives at all stages of the lifecycle of technology products.
These discoveries have funded fresh programs. Devices and data center emissions Microsoft’s GreenSKUs, for instance, intentionally mitigate embodied carbon emissions early-on through the design of devices. Our preliminary findings reveal a 5-8 percent reduction in embodied carbon attainable through these programs. The tech industry moves too fast for a reason. We can’t address device use without recognizing how manufacturing devices exacerbates the climate crisis.
The Impact of Device Manufacturing
In fact, a whopping 75 percent of device emissions happen during making the devices, known as embodied carbon. This incredibly high percentage underscores the urgency of taking the production phase into account when looking at overall emissions associated with new technology. Because the manufacturing process takes a huge toll through other resource use, including exacerbating environmental degradation and resource depletion.
Additionally, this environmental footprint is compounded by the sheer scale of device production. Every year, around 1 billion smartphones are replaced. This enormous production leads to about 50 million tonnes of CO2e emissions just from manufacturing smartphones. This alarming figure reiterates the immediate necessity for more sustainable production practices and device lifecycle management.
Making devices last longer can have an outsized impact on emissions. For example, if smartphone lifecycles were extended to three years instead of two, annual manufacturing emissions could decrease by 33 percent. This generational change will greatly diminish the need for new devices. It will incentivize consumers and manufacturers alike to adopt a mindset of sustainability.
The Role of Data Centers
In fact, when it comes to tech-related emissions, most people assume that data centers are the biggest culprits. In truth, they are responsible for just 40 percent of total IT emissions, with devices driving the other 60 percent. Within data centers, embodied carbon only makes up 40 percent of emissions. Operations make up the other 60 percent. This distribution further highlights the need for greater energy efficiency and procurement of renewable energy for data centers’ operational needs.
Even with their relatively small proportion of total emissions, data centers continue to be important targets for sustainability efforts. Through bolstering their operational efficiency and shifting to greener energy sources, companies can take sustained strides in lowering their overall carbon footprint. Combined with advances in cooling technology and server efficiency, the overall environmental impact from data center operations is minimized.
Too much attention on data center can take the hard look away from the main part of the school tech ecosystem—the end-user device. Yet as McKinsey’s recent report points out, these devices have an oversized impact on emissions. These three factors indicate that any efforts to reduce IT-related carbon footprints should include both data centers and end-user devices.
The Path Forward
To effectively combat climate change within the tech industry, stakeholders must adopt a holistic approach to sustainability that includes both devices and data centers. Initiatives like Microsoft’s GreenSKUs serve as models for how companies can make strides in reducing embodied carbon through innovative product design and responsible manufacturing practices.
It’s time for industry leaders to prioritize collaboration across sectors to help develop clearer, more comprehensive frameworks for measuring and ultimately reducing emissions. By sharing best practices and leveraging technological advancements, companies can identify opportunities for improvement and drive meaningful change across their operations.