Navigating the landscape of IT sustainability is no easy task for tech leaders, especially with today’s economic uncertainty and shifting political climates. They’re in need of a solid technology roadmap—one that can handle the ups and downs of market changes.
Sujata Kukreja, general counsel and chief compliance officer at Expereo, emphasizes the need for innovation in managing sustainability. She points out that inefficient data centers have high operating costs. “We have to invest money and be mindful of energy consumption at our data centers,” she notes. Expereo remains committed to reducing emissions, even if it means spending more upfront. The procurement team increasingly seeks out renewable energy solutions. “Our investors want to see us as a purpose-driven business,” Kukreja adds, highlighting that long-term objectives are crucial, especially with AI tools on the horizon.
Crown Worldwide is also holding its ground on emissions reduction, despite economic headwinds. Chris Davis-Pipe, their chief information officer, leads an enterprise IT team of 70 within a company that has 3,000 staff globally. “We’re striving to get a better handle on our carbon use and finding ways to shut down operations when we don’t need them,” he says. The company utilizes solar energy on warehouses and is transitioning to more cloud-based services. Meanwhile, customers are seeking detailed plans on emissions reduction and progress tracking.
Crown’s new carbon-accounting platform aims to quantify emissions, with 66% of estimated emissions accounted for by the end of 2023. The company plans to continue this strategy, buying more commercial software instead of building custom solutions. The IT team now focuses on integration and data analytics. “We’re giving local branches more freedom to tackle efficiency and agility issues within a governance framework,” Davis-Pipe explains. Automation and AI are areas they are keen to explore further for business benefits and to reach net-zero targets.
Sarwar Khan, sustainability director at BT Group, highlights that the company and its partners are doubling down on net-zero commitments amid various pressures. “I support small and mid-sized businesses, public sectors, and including our channel partners. The demand to reduce environmental impact is getting stronger,” he states. Smaller companies are aware of the challenge ahead but remain determined to pursue sustainability. The public sector is also seeing stricter performance indicators for carbon emissions.
Khan mentions that larger companies like BT have become role models for smaller firms. In fact, BT moved up its net-zero target to 2031 for business operations and 2041 for customer impacts. “We examined how to expedite our electric vehicle transition and identified areas to cut emissions in our supply chain,” he adds. About 70% of BT’s emissions fall under Scope 3, making supply chain efficiencies vital. They are focusing on Tier 1 contracts that must adhere to science-based net-zero targets.
Jon Healy, COO at Keysource, a data center solutions provider, shares that customers are increasingly pushing for transparency in emissions strategies. Many companies realize they won’t attract clients if they ignore their carbon footprints. Healy emphasizes that strategic decisions must support sustainability without compromising business growth. Companies need to drill down into their emissions data to identify real savings.
Mary Jacques, director of global ESG and regulatory compliance at Lenovo, echoes this sentiment. Lenovo continues to refine its carbon accounting, paying special attention to supplier emissions in response to customer demands. “We’re committed to understanding the full impacts of our operations, especially in AI,” she says, underscoring that their net-zero targets remain unchanged.
Despite economic challenges, signs point to steady progress in emissions reduction. Michael O’Hara, founder of Techies Go Green, acknowledges the pressures organizations face but sees a shift in expectations regarding sustainability. He compares the current situation to the early days of the internet, suggesting that true growth in sustainability might take time. “Many firms are still figuring out how to implement their goals,” he notes, observing a growing membership in his organization as evidence that many are still serious about cutting emissions.
Ben Brial, founder of Cycloid, remarks on the progress in carbon accounting but warns against relying solely on quick tech fixes. “Businesses used to think rapid growth was the only way forward, often at the expense of resources,” he explains. Now, there’s potential for companies to rethink and develop more sustainable strategies that prioritize resource efficiency alongside their goals.
