Digital
Modernise your IT departmentObjectives
- Make internal IT services greener
- Raise awareness of environmental impact ofT I
Green Value indicator
- CO2 savings
- Eco footprint
- energy intensity
- EMC: Environmentally Weighted Material Consumption
- Production-based CO2 Productivity
- Water Consumption by Sector
- SPI: Sustainable Process Index
- Resource Productivity + Material Productivity
- TMC: Total Material Consumption
Explanation
The fast technological advances have led to a sustainable digitalisation of the process and a Green IT. In the past, the ICT services were limited to the computer, server and telephones. Nowadays, the challenge is to raise awareness about the environmental issues in a scenario with varied advanced technologies, which are reshaped by concepts of digital currencies, online trading, industry 4.0, smart cities, e-Agriculture, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI) and disruptive business models.In this context, the main goal is to develop a strategy with which an organisation strives to align its information and communications technology with sustainability Objectives, considering how green will be the integration of sustainable practices in their processes. Project managers should be provided with ways of measuring how, and which technology is greener, for example: wireless (WiFi, 4G, 5G) vs. wired connection (fibre, copper lines).
What can be done?
- Develop a digital plan or strategy based on a process/product life cycle study in order to verify the sustainability improvements beyond IT operations and across many of their digitally transformed processes.
- Analyse the advantages and disadvantages, or the impacts, of a digital switch of internal process and practices. Moreover, how green are these changes? This good practice is associated not only with the adoption of technological trends, but also with a change in behaviour and an in-depth assessment of the real need to exchange all physical processes and the use of materials for virtual practices.
- Evaluate the digital footprint.
PROS/CONS of the action
Pros:- High potential to help organisations, cities and nations to better meet their sustainibility goals which inclues the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
- Opportunity to introduce new production methods, develop new business models and new products, promote a flexible production, convertible factory, create customer-oriented solutions, optimised logistics, allow automated analysis processes and reduce the consumption of physical materials.
Cons:
- Increase of e-waste
- Cost-effectiveness can be questionable
- Requirement for high-performance IT systems and highly efficient algorithms
- Increase of data security issues (data protection)
- Increase of the energy consumption if not managed carefully
Certified
IT service management standards- ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011 (ISO 20000-1) Information technology – Service management – Part 1: Service management system requirements
- ISO/IEC 20000-2:2012 (ISO 20000-2) Information technology – Service management – Part 2: Guidance on the application of service management systems
- ISO/IEC 20000-3:2012 (ISO 20000-3) Information technology – Service management – Part 3: Guidance on Scope definition and applicability of ISO/IEC 20000-1
- ISO/IEC 20000-4:2010 (ISO 20000-4) Information technology – Service management – Part 4: Process reference model
Link to useful sources
Digital sustainability: Digital transformation’s next big opportunity www.cio.comHow Green IT is changing: Sustainable digital transformation www.bmu.de
India's e-waste burden www.theguardian.com
Is digital more environmentally friendly than paper? www.except.nl
Is digital really greener than paper? www.theguardian.com
Is Going Paperless Really Better for the Environment? https://twosidesna.org
