The environmental consequences of technology specifically have also been reviewed as the climate crisis becomes an increasingly present issue. A new analysis shows that device emissions, especially from our smartphones and laptops, have a major impact on total IT emissions. About 75 percent of these emissions come from the construction stage, known commonly as embodied carbon. With a growing dependence on technology, it’s ever-more critical that we understand these hidden emissions to make informed, strategic sustainability decisions.
In fact, the average carbon footprint from manufacturing just one smartphone is approximately 50 kg CO2e. Producing a laptop generates about 200 kilograms of CO2e. Smartphones need to be replaced for new hardware every two years, even as laptops take a little longer to upgrade every three to four years. This constant churn exacerbates the problem greatly. Collectively, devices represent 60 percent of total IT emissions, with data centers making up the other 40 percent.
The Impact of Device Manufacturing on Emissions
The majority of the emissions footprint for a device occurs during production. For portable devices such as smartphones and laptops, this embodied carbon is a jaw-dropping 45 percent of total emissions. By comparison, data centers have a small embodied carbon share at 16 percent.
Smartphone production currently results in an estimated 50 million tonnes of CO2e emissions per year. This occurs at the rate of one billion units per year. This statistic illustrates how much we need to rethink the cycle of production, purchasing and disposal when it comes to replacing devices.
Simple actions, like extending a smartphone’s lifecycle from two to three years, would have massive environmental impacts. By doing so, manufacturers would be able to lower their annual manufacturing emissions by an impressive 33 percent. This change results in the sustainable production of products while educating consumers to prioritize longevity instead of perpetual advancement.
The Role of Data Centers in IT Emissions
Data centers are just one piece of the broader IT emissions ecosystem. After all, they make up 40 percent of total emissions. Their operational emissions only account for 24 percent of that total, possibly less intimidating at first glance. The rapid growth of AI workloads is now driving a huge boom in data centers. Projections indicate that by 2028 these facilities might use up to 6.7 to 12 percent of all electricity used in the U.S.
Even with their massive energy consumption, the embodied carbon from data centers is still about five times lower than that from personal devices. Closing this gap makes it clear that to tackle total IT emissions, we need to focus on the manufacturing of devices themselves. In comparison, data centers have an extremely modest level of operational emissions. For these reasons, acting on energy efficiency in these facilities can create real good—doing well by doing good—all while staying focused on the bigger challenges ahead.
Strategies for Reducing Emissions
Many of these initiatives have started with very practical ways to counter high device emissions numbers. GreenSKUs and similar programs are already working to achieve an 8 percent reduction in embodied carbon. They accomplish this by introducing sustainability to both their production and supply chain. These initiatives help drive demand for sustainable materials and processes through the manufacturers and encourage consumers to make more responsible choices in their consumption.
By fostering awareness and encouraging companies to prioritize sustainability, the tech industry can make strides toward reducing its carbon footprint. That means a partnership between manufacturers and consumers to create a culture that prioritizes long-term sustainability above short-term convenience.
