How outdated files increase CO2 emissions

Have you ever wondered how your daily digital habits impact the planet? Let me share a quick story. A few months ago, I started organizing my digital files a task I’d been putting off for years. Thousands of photos, outdated documents, unused apps, and neglected emails were just sitting there. I realised that while they didn’t take up physical space, they still carried a hidden environmental cost. Every email you send, every photo you upload, and every app you use requires energy to store, process, and maintain. This energy comes from data centers, which, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), consume 1% of the world’s electricity annually. To put it into perspective, that’s equivalent to the entire energy consumption of some small countries. And it’s not just the intangible stuff our devices like smartphones, laptops, and even smartwatches contribute to the problem. Manufacturing these gadgets requires raw materials like rare earth metals, while their disposal generates tons of e-waste each year. So, What can we do about it? Start small, but start somewhere. -Declutter your digital world: Delete files, emails, and apps you no longer use. According to Cleanfox, each email emits 4g of CO2, and reducing your email inbox can make a measurable difference. -Extend the life of your devices: Repair instead of replacing, and recycle responsibly when it’s time to upgrade. -Be mindful of streaming habits: Did you know that watching videos in SD instead of HD can reduce emissions by up to 86%? For me, the process of reducing my digital footprint has been eye-opening. I no longer see technology as just a tool it’s part of a system that directly affects the planet we live on. Every click, every upload, and every device matters. If we can make conscious decisions about how we use digital assets both tangible and intangible we can collectively reduce our digital carbon footprint. And the good news? Change doesn’t have to happen overnight. Let’s start today. Which of these steps resonates with you the most? Or Do you have other tips to share? #Sustainability #DigitalCarbonFootprint #EnvironmentalResponsibility #SustainableLiving

SAP clients face an environmental double-whammy around unwanted data. Since SAP’s HANA database runs in-memory, every GB of unnecessary data not only sits on disk, but also in very expensive, high-carbon RAM also. With a typical SAP system running not into GBs, but into TBs, the financial and environmental impact of retaining unwanted data can be substantial. The answer is obvious - archive and delete obsolete data, and do so early in your S/4HANA journey - I found 12mths ahead of moving to the Cloud worked for us. Activate DVM in SolMan, or request a DVM service from SAP, is a good starting point, and if necessary, engage with an SAP archiving partner to execute the steps DVM recommended. That project should pay for itself in disk, RAM and CPU cost savings when you hit S/4. You will have greatly reduced your SAP landscape’s carbon footprint too. #sap #s4hana #dataarchiving Thierry JULIEN

Efficient, sustainable data centers aren’t just about lower cost, efficient cooling or renewable energy; they start with the data itself. “Dark data”, unused, obsolete, or forgotten information, sits on servers, consuming electricity and inflating digital carbon footprints. Every bit stored needs power, drives up energy bills, and adds load to cooling systems. Managing dark data through knowledge management is a key sustainability strategy. By organizing, evaluating, and either repurposing or securely deleting unused data, organizations reduce storage waste, cut costs, and lower emissions. Smart data governance ensures only meaningful information is retained, improving decision-making while shrinking environmental impact. Tackling dark data is one of the most practical ways to make operations greener, more efficient, and truly responsible. #SustainableTech #DataCenters #DigitalDecarbonization #DarkData

🌍 Sustainability that we can’t see – Let’s talk digital! When we think about sustainability, we often picture reducing plastic waste, cutting emissions, or using renewable energy. But what about the impact we can’t see? Today, I’m teaming up with our very own Chief Sustainability Officer, Katharina Stenholm to highlight an often-overlooked aspect of sustainability—digital responsibility. Digital waste—like unused data, overflowing inboxes, and inefficient cloud storage—still consumes energy and contributes to CO₂ emissions. In fact, internet usage alone accounts for 3.7% of global emissions—equal to the entire aviation industry! ✈️ That’s why at dsm-firmenich, we’re committed to cutting our carbon footprint, tackling not just physical waste but digital waste too by: ✅ Optimizing our digital infrastructure to reduce energy consumption ✅ Encouraging responsible data management across our teams ✅ Providing tools and education for sustainable digital habits This World Cleanup Day, I encourage all of you to take a moment to clean up our digital footprint: 📂 Delete unnecessary files and emails ☁️ Optimize cloud storage 🔋 Be mindful of your digital energy use Sustainability is more than what meets the eye. Small actions—both physical and digital—add up to a big impact. What are your tips and habits to reduce your personal or professional digital carbon footprint? Share your tips in the comments! 🌱♻️ #Sustainability #DigitalResponsibility #DigitalCleanupDay #WorldCleanupDay #GreenTech

Did you know your emails and cloud storage contribute to climate change? I recently came across something that completely surprised me—Digital Pollution. We often talk about reducing our carbon footprint by driving less or using renewable energy, but I never realized that storing old emails, unused files, and binge-watching videos also have an environmental cost. - Every file stored in the cloud sits in massive data centers that consume enormous amounts of electricity. - Streaming videos, keeping unnecessary emails, and even spam messages add to carbon emissions. - The global IT sector contributes 2-4% of CO₂ emissions, rivaling the aviation industry! This was eye-opening for me, and I felt the need to share. A simple action like deleting old emails and cleaning up cloud storage can help reduce energy consumption. I'm now making a conscious effort to declutter my digital life and encourage others to do the same. If you're reading this, maybe it's time for a digital cleanup challenge? Try it out—clear your mailbox, free up some cloud storage, and reduce your digital footprint today! Let’s take small steps for a greener digital world. 🌱 Have you ever thought about digital pollution before? Let me know in the comments! #DigitalPollution #Sustainability #ClimateAction #DigitalCleanup #GoGreen

Digital Waste: The Hidden Sustainability Challenge We talk about plastic waste and carbon emissions, but what about digital waste? Every email, cloud file, and unused app contributes to energy consumption. Did you know? Storing a single email for a year generates 10g of CO2. Data centers account for nearly 1% of global energy demand—and rising. Digital hoarding isn’t just an organizational headache; it’s an environmental one too. The solution? Digital Sustainability. Here’s how you can make an impact: 1️⃣ Delete unnecessary files, emails, and apps regularly. 2️⃣ Opt for eco-friendly cloud services powered by renewables. 3️⃣ Audit your devices and clear out what’s no longer needed. Sustainability isn’t just about what’s visible—it’s about the unseen too. What’s your take on digital waste? Did I miss any tips? Let us know in the comments—your ideas could inspire change! #DigitalSustainability #TechForGood #DigitalWaste #SustainabilityMatters #EcoTech #GreenIT #ClimateAction #ReduceReuseRecycle #SustainableFuture #EnergyEfficiency #CleanTech #SustainableTech