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The Green Revolution in IT: How sustainable tech is shaping our future

June 10, 2025

Do you want to harness the power of technology while protecting the planet? If so, it’s time to explore Sustainable IT- a game-changing approach that ensures IT products and services contribute to environmental and social well-being. Sustainable IT is about making smart choices when designing, using and disposing of hardware and software. But it’s also about leveraging IT as a powerful force to drive sustainability across industries.

As organizations face increasing regulatory pressure, consumer expectations and environmental challenges, embedding sustainability into IT operations is no longer optional; it’s essential.

This article brings expert insights from SGS information security expert Khawaja Faisal, Senior Manager and Digital Trust Lead Auditor/Trainer at SGS Pakistan where he explores the key components of sustainable IT, its impact across industries, real-world success stories and how businesses can integrate sustainable practices into their digital strategies.

Let’s bring this concept to life with some real-world examples of sustainable IT in action.

What is Sustainable IT?

Sustainable IT (or Green IT) refers to the design, manufacture, use and disposal of information technology in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. It encompasses:

  • Energy-efficient devices and systems
  • Green data centers
  • Ethical and sustainable sourcing of IT components
  • Reduction of electronic waste (e-waste)
  • Optimization of IT infrastructure to minimize carbon footprint

By adopting sustainable IT practices, organizations can reduce costs, improve operational efficiency and contribute to a cleaner environment.

Key Areas of Sustainable IT

The design and production of IT devices play a significant role in sustainability. Manufacturers are shifting towards energy-efficient components, recyclable materials and modular designs to extend device longevity and reduce electronic waste.

Example: Apple’s Carbon-Neutral Manufacturing
Apple has pledged to be carbon-neutral across its entire supply chain by 2030. Their latest MacBooks and iPhones feature recycled aluminum casings, and they use renewable energy sources in their manufacturing plants.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

  • Invest in Energy Star-rated equipment
  • Encourage device repairability instead of replacements
  • Partner with suppliers who adhere to ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems

With the exponential growth of data, data centers have become one of the largest consumers of electricity worldwide. Sustainable IT focuses on optimizing power usage effectiveness (PUE) and utilizing renewable energy sources.

AI's Impact on Data Center Energy Consumption

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has significantly increased the computational demands on data centers. Training large AI models, such as GPT-4, requires substantial energy, leading to higher operational costs and environmental impacts. For instance, processing a million tokens in a generative AI model emits carbon comparable to driving a gas-powered vehicle for 5 to 20 miles.

Example: Google’s AI-Powered Data Centers
Google uses AI algorithms to adjust cooling systems dynamically, resulting in a 40% reduction in energy use across its global data centers.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

  • Shift to cloud providers with a carbon-neutral commitment
  • Implement ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems for optimization
  • Use liquid cooling and natural ventilation to reduce energy waste

Sustainable IT is driving innovations in urban planning and energy management, helping cities reduce their carbon footprints through smart grids, intelligent transportation systems and IoT-enabled infrastructure.

Example: Singapore’s Smart Nation Initiative
Singapore has integrated AI-powered traffic management and solar-powered smart streetlights, significantly cutting urban energy consumption.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

  • Leverage IoT-enabled solutions for energy efficiency
  • Support government-backed smart city projects
  • Implement ISO 37120 Sustainable Cities and Communities guidelines

Companies are now prioritizing IT suppliers that comply with sustainability standards. Sustainable procurement ensures that the entire IT supply chain follows ethical and eco-friendly practices.

Example: Dell’s Sustainable Supply Chain
Dell has introduced closed-loop recycling, using materials from old computers to manufacture new ones, reducing environmental impact by 35%.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

  • Adopt ISO 20400 Sustainable Procurement practices
  • Source from vendors with responsible e-waste policies
  • Implement carbon footprint tracking for IT supply chains

Cloud computing offers a more sustainable alternative to maintaining on-premises servers, as cloud providers optimize their infrastructure to reduce environmental impact.

Example: Microsoft’s Carbon-Negative Commitment
Microsoft aims to be carbon-negative by 2030, investing in carbon removal projects and ensuring their cloud services run on 100% renewable energy.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

  • Migrate to eco-friendly cloud services
  • Optimize server workloads to reduce power consumption
  • Encourage server virtualization to maximize resource efficiency

E-waste is a growing global issue, with millions of tons of discarded electronic devices filling landfills every year. Sustainable IT focuses on recycling, refurbishing and reusing IT assets to create a circular economy.

Example: HP’s Closed-Loop Recycling Program
HP recycles plastic from old cartridges to produce new ink cartridges, preventing thousands of tons of waste annually.

How Businesses Can Adapt:

  • Implement responsible e-waste disposal programs
  • Partner with IT asset recovery and recycling firms
  • Follow ISO 14062 guidelines on sustainable product design

SGS IMPACT NOW: Driving a Sustainable Future

SGS IMPACT NOW is designed to help organizations integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their strategies. Our sustainability impact services and solutions are broadly categorized under Climate, Circularity, Nature and ESG Assurance, to enable businesses to pinpoint exactly what they need to make their impact now and make informed decisions about their sustainability journey.

SGS’s Key Services for Sustainable IT

  • Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) Readiness
  • Double Materiality Assessments
  • ESG Assurance and IT Sustainability Audits
  • Green Data Center Certification Programs
  • ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems - Training, Gap audits, Certification
  • ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems – Training, Gap audits, Certification
  • Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Verification & other Climate Change Mitigation Services

Join the Green IT Movement Today

The transition to sustainable IT is not a distant dream; it’s happening now. Whether you’re an individual, a small business, or a global enterprise, every step towards energy-efficient, ethical and responsible IT usage makes a difference. Let’s rethink technology not just for convenience, but for a greener, smarter and more sustainable future! Contact us now.

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About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

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