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A charity guide to sustainable technology
14 Jun 2023by Laura Stanley
Everything you and your charity need to know about environmental sustainability and technology, including what to look for to reduce the environmental impact of the tech you use
When it comes to environmental sustainability, technology contributes both the problem and the solution. While we know that technology can have a hugely beneficial impact on how we tackle the climate crisis, we are also at risk of ignoring its harmful effects, such as the growing problem of e-waste, Research suggests that the UK produces the second largest amount of e-waste – discarded electronic products, such as mobile phones, laptops, and tablets – per capita in the world, only behind Norway.
Technology’s impact on the climate crisis is not something charities, in particular, can ignore. The vast majority of charities (88%) are concerned about the impacts of climate change, according to Charity Digital’s recent survey to gauge the attitudes of the sector towards environmental sustainability. This is similar in proportion to the rest of the UK, 85% of whom reported feeling worried about climate change in 2019.
Charities are well-aware of the positive impact sustainable technology can have on the environment. More than seven in ten (72%) of charities said digital technology had helped them to become more environmentally sustainable, with the same proportion expecting it to continue doing so in the future. But there is still work to on prioritising sustainable technology in-house – our report revealed that just over half of charities (56%) currently consider the environmental impact of the technology they used.
Yet, for charities choosing technology based on its environmental sustainability, they do not have to worry about compromising on functionality. It is a matter of questioning technology partners on environmental impact, encouraging those organisations to make sustainable decisions, and choosing greener tech solutions where possible. It is not the silver bullet for climate change, but it certainly helps.
The Sustainable Devices for Positive Impact report, from Dell Technologies, sums up the importance of sustainable technology well: “Sustainable devices can’t make an organisation environmentally sustainable on their own. What they can do, however, is help your organisation take a significant step in a more sustainable direction.”
What is sustainable technology?
Sustainable technology is tech that is considered to be environmentally-friendly, both in production and impact. Sustainable technology prioritises responsible design, materials that are replaceable and recyclable, and being energy efficient, saving users time and money while reducing the tech’s carbon footprint.
Given the growing emphasis on reducing our carbon footprint globally, most technology companies now have a sustainability strategy available to read on their website, defining the actions they are planning to take to reduce their environmental impact. Many of these strategies will not be finalised, but instead outlining goals for the future.
Dell, for example, defines sustainability as “developing technology solutions in ethically and environmentally responsible ways. It also means working with our partners and customers to help them achieve their own sustainability goals.”
It has committed to reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050, increasing the energy efficiency of its devices, and delivering innovative reuse and recycle programmes, among other initiatives to tackle the climate crisis.
Dell covers its sustainability policy more fully in its ebook, Sustainable Devices for Positive Impact, outlining why environmental sustainability should matter to its customers and why they are innovating with the environment in mind.
Why should charities invest in sustainable technology?
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Reduce your environmental impact
According to Dell, “While every organization must decide for itself how to become more sustainable, there’s no question that IT is a relatively important and easy place to start. The technologies an organization deploys are not just key to its daily operations; everything from how they’re made to how they’re managed and replaced has an environmental impact.”
The technology charities use will have an impact of the energy it uses and the emissions it contributes to the atmosphere, which organisations should calculate in order to determine their environmental impact. There are many free online carbon calculators available, including those we‘ve included in our Climate Action resource bank.
Looking into your technology’s emissions, energy efficiency, and recyclability is important to any organisation looking to minimise their impact now. Ultimately, it is the right thing to do.
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Meet demand for climate action
Dell is not the only organisation working to address climate change, nor are they the only collective concerned. The vast majority of the UK, across all demographics, are concerned about the impacts of the climate crisis, while further research found that 71% of consumers considered sustainability when making purchasing decisions. Likewise, the Sustainability Matters report from Smartest Energy, revealed that four of out five people prefer to buy products from sustainable sellers.
There is little reason to believe that the public’s attitude in favour of sustainability would not cross over into the charity sector, too. While charities are not bound by the same Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting standards as private corporations, their environmental impact still is of concern to their audiences, whether they are donors, funders, or beneficiaries.
It is also worth noting that charities receive added scrutiny as a result of existing for the public benefit – behaviours that do not align with an organisation’s values can cause significant reputational damage and environmentally speaking, can be seen as “greenwashing”, where words are not met with action when it comes to addressing climate change. Choosing sustainable technology reinforces an organisation’s commitment to looking after the environment and demonstrates that it is being thought about in all areas of operations, including IT.
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Working with committed partners
In recent years, charities have ended partnerships with corporations that do not reflect their own environmental values, with supporters applying pressure to ensure the organisations they support act with integrity in all areas of their operations.
Charities, as customers and partners themselves, have the power to influence how other sectors operate. They can ask the right questions about environmental impact – thus protecting their own reputation and reducing their own impact – and demonstrate to their chosen partners that environmental sustainability is important to them. It is not a matter that can be ignored.
The impacts of climate change cannot be tackled alone. It requires collaboration across all partners, suppliers, industries, and governments. Charities looking to digitally transform their operations and reduce their environmental impact need not compromise – they are not mutually exclusive goals.
Looking into sustainable technology, and choosing to invest in that which helps us achieve our mission, is a way of future-proofing our organisations and the planet at the same time.
Unlock the power of sustainable devices now
Click above to unlock the full potential of sustainable devices with Dell Technologies’ exclusive e-book, available for instant download
Laura Stanley
Laura Stanley
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