Based on recent analyses, end-user devices are responsible for far more global carbon emissions than we had ever estimated. This unbelievable discovery begs the question of what should constitute sustainability metrics in the tech world. Data centers have long made headlines when it comes to emissions. Unfortunately, as new data recently revealed, that is a small fraction of total emissions when compared to the devices that connect to them. This new lens on the industry requires a dramatic rethinking of how emissions are tracked and publicly disclosed across the sector.
Data center operations today account for just 24 percent of total emissions from the Information Technology (IT) sector. In sharp opposition, end-user devices produce 1.5-2 times the carbon than all data centers put together. The world is getting more dependent on digital technology each day. This exploration of the true impact of device emissions is an important step toward crafting scalable sustainability efforts.
The Role of Device Emissions
The emissions related to end-user devices, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones, can be categorized into 3 main areas. Particularly striking is that device embodied carbon makes up a significant 45 percent of total device emissions, whereas device operation adds only 15 percent. In reality, the bulk of emissions comes from the production of the devices—not from operating them.
When we zoom in specifically on manufacturing, an important picture emerges. Much to the surprise of many, fully 75 percent of device emissions occur in this phase. According to one report, the manufacturing of just one smartphone results in as much as 50 kg CO2e. This is in addition to the estimated 1 billion smartphones that are replaced each year. This colossal creation process emits a whopping 50 million tonnes of CO2e per year.
This information underscores a critical moment for manufacturers and consumers alike to start factoring the environmental impact of replacing devices too often. Replacement cycles are similarly short – two years for a smartphone, three to four years for laptops and five years for printers. Incentivizing longer lifecycles for these devices would make a significant dent in their total carbon impact.
Data Centers: A Smaller Piece of the Pie
Data centers are a necessary component of our ability to live, work, learn and play in an increasingly virtual digital world. Their impact on total emissions is way less than you probably assume. US data centers and their operations account for 60 percent of total emissions. This measurement is determined by Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). Despite progress in energy efficiency, the net effect is small. For instance, Google touts that its data centers are 1.5 times more efficient than the industry average. This increase barely makes a dent in emissions produced by user devices.
Under widely-adopted frameworks required by the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), about 11,700 companies are required to disclose their emissions. These reporting metrics only fully account for around 30 percent of total emissions from the IT sector. This gap indicates that the majority of companies are underestimating significant contributors to their carbon footprint. User devices, on the other hand, are especially forgotten when it comes to this.
Projections show that by 2028, AI workloads alone could use up to 6.7 to 12 percent of all U.S. electricity. So it’s really important to take a complete view to understand the emissions impacts of both data centers and end-user devices. As consumer behavior is increasingly being influenced and transformed by AI, the associated energy demands from AI will pose an additional challenge in the emissions playing field.
A Call for Sustainable Practices
The urgency of proactive action on device longevity is obvious. Increasing smartphone lifecycles from two to three years would lead to a dramatic 33 percent decrease in annual manufacturing emissions. Both consumers and manufacturers are grappling with their climate or sustainability obligations. They now need to require more creative solutions that make it economically viable for devices to be used longer.
Additionally, this new awareness of emissions must inspire stakeholders throughout the tech industry to adjust their sustainability efforts. Smart companies will focus on making their data centers as energy efficient as possible. They need to address the emissions related to the manufacturing and disposal of these new devices. Collaborations among manufacturers, consumers, and regulatory bodies can foster an environment where sustainability is prioritized at every stage of a device’s lifecycle.