An increasingly large segment of society is concerned about the environment and the impact of their purchasing decisions.
Technology companies, regardless of our size, have a responsibility—and also a great opportunity—to lead the fight against climate change.
Large technology companies have the financial resources and equipment, highly qualified staff, and a commitment to improving society.
It is crucial that they also commit to ensuring that this improvement in society does not come at the expense of natural and social resources.
In the tech industry and the field of sustainability, there are some terms that can be somewhat confusing, and it’s also unclear how these types of companies—and each of us—can help slow down the climate crisis that affects us all.
Here we clarify some of them.
What does it mean for a company to commit to being “carbon neutral” or “carbon negative”?
A company will inevitably continue to generate and produce carbon emissions, but it can offset them through actions that absorb the same amount of emissions from the atmosphere, such as planting corporate forests. Planting a corporate forest means absorbing carbon dioxide. Major tech companies like Apple and Amazon joined this initiative years ago. At MercadoIT, we celebrated our 10th anniversary by planting a small corporate forest to offset 5 metric tons of CO2.
But, although it may seem that way to some, that is not enough. Environmental scientists are clear that global emissions must be cut in half by 2030 if we are to have any chance of avoiding—or at least mitigating—the worst impacts of the crisis.
What are the impacts—both positive and negative—of technology companies?
First of all, the technology industry requires a great deal of electricity—for example, to build and maintain a data center. If much of that electricity comes from fossil fuels such as coal, it generates a large amount of emissions that contribute to global warming. This is a relatively easy problem to solve if companies use renewable energy, which is expanding at an increasingly rapid pace, thanks in part to the fact that it is becoming more affordable.
Major corporations such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have also recently come under scrutiny for selling technology that helps the oil and gas industry extract fossil fuels, one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Google has promised to stop engaging in this type of business deal.
Can Apple, Amazon, and Google require the manufacturers of their devices to reduce emissions from their factories and switch to cleaner energy sources? Can they reuse and recycle the materials used to make their devices?
In general, these companies have not been very supportive of promoting the refurbishment of their products, or of facilitating repairs or extending their useful life. However, with the recent European regulation known as the “Right to Repair,” technology manufacturers will be required to provide replacement parts and manuals to ensure that their devices last, on average, at least 10 years. This is a step forward in combating opaque practices and greenwashing.
Then there is also the crucial role played by companies like Facebook and the extent to which these internet companies are helping to spread false information or even misinformation about climate science, thereby creating confusion and fostering opposition to these global actions and measures aimed at improving our relationship with the environment.
Is it effective for companies to chart their own course or make their own decisions regarding climate change? And what about governments?
Years ago, something similar happened in the United States when companies flatly refused to comply with regulations on personal data privacy. Thanks to the pressure from advocacy groups, user associations, and regulations, they had to change their privacy policies to bring them into compliance with the LGPD.
It is possible, though unlikely, that large tech companies will once again set voluntary targets to subtly circumvent national laws, as in the case of emissions regulations. Both the UK and the European Union require their member countries to achieve net-zero emissions. This will affect tech companies as well as those in every other sector. And, of course, it will affect us as users, too.
What can we do as consumers of technology?
Above all, we can rethink how we use technology, both at the user level and in terms of professional equipment. Professional technology equipment requires far more materials, more expensive components, and more difficult recycling processes. That is why we have a responsibility to find business technology that is as environmentally friendly as possible.
To that end, we can ensure a trusted supplier that adheres to fair labor practices, preferably operates locally, and guarantees efficient use and repair. As a result, refurbished technology equipment enables companies to meet their financial and sustainability goals while complying with stringent standards for efficiency and optimal use.
We can also find out about the environmental impact of the products we buy, how long they last, their warranties, and repair and recycling options.
But perhaps the first step is to think about what we buy. Manufacturing new, shiny products contributes significantly to global warming, and the rapid turnover of products encourages the disposal of a lot of technology that ends up in illegal electronic waste dumps on the other side of the world, such as the one in Ghana. But it’s not just the devices we buy—it’s also the shipping, packaging, delivery, and returns.
We can make a big difference by choosing tech products that are designed with these processes in mind and by keeping the ones we already have for as long as possible—simply by replacing a few components, the battery, or updating the software.
