Smart choices reduce the climate impact of your IT use
The effects of the climate crisis are here. Weather and climate extremes affect every region across the globe, with flooding, drought and damage to nature and people. We must act now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all significant sources, including IT products.
Global warming is now 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. To limit warming to 1.5 or even 2 degrees, emissions must be cut in half by 2030, compared with 2019. Instead, the levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere continue to rise. Emissions stem from a variety of sources, and IT products are no exception.
Computers, phones and other IT products are a source of greenhouse gases throughout their life cycle — from manufacturing to distribution, use and disposal. For most IT products, a majority of these emissions occur in the manufacturing phase. The manufacturing process is energy-intensive, and a majority of factories are powered by fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases are also emitted during transportation and use of the IT product, but in comparison to the manufacturing phase, the impacts are relatively small. Therefore, energy-saving features and switching to a more energy-efficient product have marginal effects. The most important thing is to use products longer.
Climate change, circularity and e-waste are closely linked
Improving the life cycle management of IT is a powerful way to reduce the climate impact. Today, we often give these products a short life. Once they are discarded, only a small percentage is recycled. Instead, virgin natural resources are used to produce new products, which leads to larger greenhouse gas emissions than if recycled materials were used.
In our mostly linear economy, we are overusing finite natural resources, and in our pursuit of them, natural habitats with vegetation which can capture carbon are being destroyed. The short life we give IT products also creates huge amounts of toxic e-waste – more than 50 million metric tons, a figure that grows every year. In many ways, climate change, circularity and e-waste are closely linked. Addressing one of these areas will have a positive impact on the other two.
Most emissions are scope 3
A majority of total life cycle emissions from an IT product are scope 3. These are emissions that occur in an organization’s value chain. Scope 3 includes emissions from the manufacturing process of the IT product, including material sourcing, material refinery, component manufacturing, final assembly and transportation to the user. Downstream emissions from e-waste management and recycling are also included.
The exact figure for scope 3 is difficult to know, partly because it varies between product categories, and partly because the IT sector is constantly evolving. But the primary challenge is to get hold of reliable data from the IT product supply chain, which is complex and geographically widespread. Measuring the climate impact of a single product model requires collecting data from a large number of suppliers and sub-suppliers, many of which remain unknown. Data is mostly unverified, so the accuracy level is uncertain and the risk of greenwashing is high.
There is great uncertainty in the calculation of product carbon footprints
There is a wide range of systems and services that offer carbon footprint calculations. Each is designed differently and based on different methods and assumptions. This lack of standardization means that you get very different results depending on which system you use, which makes comparisons difficult and inaccurate.
It is also sometimes unclear what should be included in the climate footprint. For example, should only the production line for a specific product model be taken into consideration, or the entire factory? What about the emissions from transportation between the factory and the workers’ homes, which would not have been needed if manufacturing did not occur? Another challenge is synchronizing data between organizations, for example between the brand owner which designs and produces the product, and the organization which buys and uses it. There is a risk that the same emissions are counted twice, or on the contrary, that they are not reported by anyone.
What scope 1, 2 and 3 means for IT products
Scope 1
Direct emissions that stem from vehicles, equipment or other devices owned or controlled by an organization, for example, from diesel cars used by employees. For a purchasing organization measuring emissions from IT hardware: No scope 1 emissions.
Scope 2
Owned, indirect emissions from generating the electricity purchased and used by an organization, for example, to heat or cool the office building. For a purchasing organization measuring emissions from IT hardware: Emissions from the energy required to charge and run the notebook computer.
Scope 3
Not owned, indirect emissions that occur in an organization’s value chain. For a purchasing organization measuring emissions from IT hardware: emissions from the manufacturing process of the IT product, including material sourcing, material refinery, component manufacturing, final assembly, and transportation to the user. Downstream emissions from e-waste management and recycling are also included.
Progress is more important than perfection
Whilst the difficulties in measuring greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints have become increasingly clear, regulatory and stakeholder demands on organizations to measure and report these figures are increasing. However, measuring does not automatically lead to reduced emissions. With a climate emergency on our doorstep, there is an urgency to make real reductions. This work cannot wait until we have perfect measurement tools. “What you don’t measure, you can’t manage” has become a universal truth, but maybe this phrase should be questioned. Even if not all numbers are in place, we already know enough to take action.
Six actions for reducing your climate impact
Here are some ways your organization can act now to reduce your emissions in the IT life cycle.
1
The most important thing you can do to lower your carbon footprint is to use products for a longer time.
2
When you purchase a product, select one with good enough performance to cover your needs for a few years, at least.
3
Make sure that the product you buy is durable and possible to repair and upgrade.
4
Set up a scheme for redeploying IT products internally. After its first use, a product may work just fine in a less data-intensive function.
5
Remember that your IT products could have value even if they no longer meet the needs of your organization. Give it a second life by selling or donating it.
6
Once the product has reached the end of its usable life, ensure it is recycled safely and responsibly.
How using TCO Certified helps you lower emissions
To help reduce the climate impact of IT products, criteria in TCO Certified are designed to drive the development of products that can live longer. Criteria for energy efficiency are also included, for both products and factories. When you cite TCO Certified in your procurement specifications, the certified products you receive are designed to help lower your footprint.
Product lifetime extension
Energy efficiency
TCO Certified is the world’s most comprehensive sustainability certification for IT products, helping you make responsible product choices that drive the industry in a sustainable direction. Using TCO Certified also supports your organization in taking the next step in social and environmental responsibility.
