2023-12-31 07:30:59
We regularly talk about energy sobriety, but when it comes to talking about digital sobriety, the subject is not always clear… And yet, both converge towards a responsible approach, for respect of our planet and conducive to human well-being.
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At SPIE Facilities, ideas are flowing to implement projects aimed at greater digital sobriety. Precisely, since we are talking about it, it is perhaps the time to better understand where this digital pollution comes from and to apply some actions to limit it!
To find out more about energy sobriety, discover the podcast “Go for energy sobriety!” © SPIE FACILITIES
Digital pollution does not always seem very palpable, especially when sending emails. However, it actively contributes to pollution and affects the environment, humans and animals. Indeed, the mass and daily use of IT tools all over the world makes it impossible for them to be devoid of any impact…
What is digital pollution?
Digital pollution is the result of forms of pollution generated by tools in the IT sector. The latter emits greenhouse gases, causes the erosion of biodiversity, generates chemical contamination or creates electronic waste. The objects that generate the most digital pollution remain mainly (65 to 90%) computers, smartphones, tablets and other televisions. The other tools are data centers and networks.
In spring 2022, ADEME published figures highlighting the environmental footprint of digital technology in France:
- 10% of electricity consumption comes from digital,
- 2.5% of the carbon footprint in France comes from this sector,
- 1 French person produces 299 kg of digital waste per year,
- 62.5 tonnes of resources are used to manufacture digital objects.
For comparison, you should know that the carbon footprint for the waste sector reaches 2% of our country’s carbon footprint.
What can we do to move towards digital sobriety?
Sophie Delaitre, CSR manager at SPIE Facilities, announces it in her podcast “The Little Joys of Sobriety”: digital technology represents 4% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, a figure that could double by 2025.
Companies are starting (and continuing) to be concerned about this digital pollution and are implementing projects to lead their employees on the path to digital sobriety.
Sophie Delaitre notably proposed some ideas to submit to the employees of these companies: turn off your computer in the evening when leaving the office and during your lunch break, try to keep the batteries between 20 and 80%, use video occasionally, delete old emails which will never be read again. These actions were proposed during a webinar which, beforehand, explained the context and highlighted the gains brought by these actions… to be continued, of course!
Article produced in partnership with SPIE Facilities
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