Sustainability data publishing site Ecodesk has revealed that carbon emissions targets at leading technology companies such as Samsung, Intel, Microsoft, Apple and Fujitsu are being hit by a shift to cloud computing and supply chain reporting. Samsung and Intel in particular have seen their CO2 emissions rocket due to the inclusion of their supply chain.
Ecodesk profiled over 50 of the top technology companies among hundreds of other global businesses, claims that many supposedly ‘green’ companies and rankings which claim steady declines in emissions figures are completely misleading, Ecodesk data shows that in fact tech companies with the highest carbon footprints are actually the most responsible.
Samsung, Intel and Apple for example have high CO2-e but both businesses include the emissions of their respective supply chains (called GHG Scope 3) as part of their standard reporting, following recent guidelines by the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The result is that on the surface they look like big polluters. Intel’s carbon footprint is 46m tonnes of CO2 but its supply chain accounts for about 96% of its total emissions.
“Tech companies in particular are leading the charge and being very bold by forfeiting their own emission targets to embrace the emissions produced by third parties,” said Robert Clarke, CEO at Ecodesk. “The shift to embrace cloud computing and supply chains has meant that each company that embraces what we feel is the most comprehensive model experience their own emissions shoot up although the overall impact on the environment is reduced significantly by cloud computing, and supply chain imperatives. I have no doubt that this is the right move for the environment although on first glance it doesn’t look good in terms of hitting emissions targets.”
The problem with cloud computing is also compounded by whether a cloud is deemed ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’. While embracing the cloud does have longer term environmental benefits, technology companies have to ensure they are dealing with data centres which employ progressive sustainability measures, like Apple, who use renewable power sources and highly advanced efficiency in power consumption, from lighting to cooling.
“It is very important to assess the net carbon impact of the ‘after scenario’,” said Alison Rowe, Global Executive Director of Sustainability at Fujitsu. “If you have a clean data centre with renewable energy and you move that into a ‘dirty’ cloud powered by coal then this isn’t an improvement.”
“The large tech companies are working hard on improving their emissions and reporting transparency,” added Clarke. “Extending their carbon footprints to their supply chains and ultimately making the whole industry more responsible can only be a good thing for the environment. They will also realise very significant cost savings in reduced logistics and energy use. The economic drivers are huge.”
ANALYSIS
Carbon intensity (tonnes of CO2-e produced annually, per $million turnover)
Despite being the largest producer of carbon emissions in the tech sector, Samsung is also working towards reduction with a target of 2% this year. It has a carbon intensity of 399.7. Intel is the second largest producer of carbon emissions but has a large carbon intensity of 1,048. This compares with Ingram Micro (0.9) and Acer (2.0) both of which have low carbon intensities.
Cloud computing is almost directly responsible for the carbon intensity increase at Apple (147.2), Fujitsu (99.3) and Microsoft (24.0).
“Overall the technology sector is working hard at measuring and managing its emissions and energy use,” said Clarke. “These are the companies setting examples to the rest by actually reporting their data. They are, quite rightly adopting the mantra “what gets measured gets managed”
The Carbon Emissions Top Ten in Technology (by gross CO2-e in tonnes)
1. Samsung
2. Intel
3. Sony
4. Apple
5. Nokia
6. Fujitsu
7. Panasonic
8. Hitachi
9. Hewlett Packard
10. Toshiba
The Top Ten Energy Users in Technology (GJ)
1. Fujitsu
2. Hitachi
3. Sharp
4. Toshiba
5. Samsung
6. IBM
7. Dai Nippon Printing
8. Sanyo
9. Intel
10. Hewlett Packard
About Ecodesk
· Ecodesk is the world’s largest, public, sustainability database of carbon, energy, water and waste, with data on over 17,000 global organisations. www.ecodesk.com
· Additional resources include in-depth interviews, training apps, reports, measurement software, conferences, interactive widgets, links and podcasts. Visit www.ecodesk.com/resources
· Ecodesk was founded in 2006 and has had support from private investors, some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, and government grants. Founder and CEO Robert Clarke has 25 years of experience in business and sustainability.
www.ecodesk.com
Ecodesk profiled over 50 of the top technology companies among hundreds of other global businesses, claims that many supposedly ‘green’ companies and rankings which claim steady declines in emissions figures are completely misleading, Ecodesk data shows that in fact tech companies with the highest carbon footprints are actually the most responsible.
Samsung, Intel and Apple for example have high CO2-e but both businesses include the emissions of their respective supply chains (called GHG Scope 3) as part of their standard reporting, following recent guidelines by the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The result is that on the surface they look like big polluters. Intel’s carbon footprint is 46m tonnes of CO2 but its supply chain accounts for about 96% of its total emissions.
“Tech companies in particular are leading the charge and being very bold by forfeiting their own emission targets to embrace the emissions produced by third parties,” said Robert Clarke, CEO at Ecodesk. “The shift to embrace cloud computing and supply chains has meant that each company that embraces what we feel is the most comprehensive model experience their own emissions shoot up although the overall impact on the environment is reduced significantly by cloud computing, and supply chain imperatives. I have no doubt that this is the right move for the environment although on first glance it doesn’t look good in terms of hitting emissions targets.”
The problem with cloud computing is also compounded by whether a cloud is deemed ‘clean’ or ‘dirty’. While embracing the cloud does have longer term environmental benefits, technology companies have to ensure they are dealing with data centres which employ progressive sustainability measures, like Apple, who use renewable power sources and highly advanced efficiency in power consumption, from lighting to cooling.
“It is very important to assess the net carbon impact of the ‘after scenario’,” said Alison Rowe, Global Executive Director of Sustainability at Fujitsu. “If you have a clean data centre with renewable energy and you move that into a ‘dirty’ cloud powered by coal then this isn’t an improvement.”
“The large tech companies are working hard on improving their emissions and reporting transparency,” added Clarke. “Extending their carbon footprints to their supply chains and ultimately making the whole industry more responsible can only be a good thing for the environment. They will also realise very significant cost savings in reduced logistics and energy use. The economic drivers are huge.”
ANALYSIS
Carbon intensity (tonnes of CO2-e produced annually, per $million turnover)
Despite being the largest producer of carbon emissions in the tech sector, Samsung is also working towards reduction with a target of 2% this year. It has a carbon intensity of 399.7. Intel is the second largest producer of carbon emissions but has a large carbon intensity of 1,048. This compares with Ingram Micro (0.9) and Acer (2.0) both of which have low carbon intensities.
Cloud computing is almost directly responsible for the carbon intensity increase at Apple (147.2), Fujitsu (99.3) and Microsoft (24.0).
“Overall the technology sector is working hard at measuring and managing its emissions and energy use,” said Clarke. “These are the companies setting examples to the rest by actually reporting their data. They are, quite rightly adopting the mantra “what gets measured gets managed”
The Carbon Emissions Top Ten in Technology (by gross CO2-e in tonnes)
1. Samsung
2. Intel
3. Sony
4. Apple
5. Nokia
6. Fujitsu
7. Panasonic
8. Hitachi
9. Hewlett Packard
10. Toshiba
The Top Ten Energy Users in Technology (GJ)
1. Fujitsu
2. Hitachi
3. Sharp
4. Toshiba
5. Samsung
6. IBM
7. Dai Nippon Printing
8. Sanyo
9. Intel
10. Hewlett Packard
About Ecodesk
· Ecodesk is the world’s largest, public, sustainability database of carbon, energy, water and waste, with data on over 17,000 global organisations. www.ecodesk.com
· Additional resources include in-depth interviews, training apps, reports, measurement software, conferences, interactive widgets, links and podcasts. Visit www.ecodesk.com/resources
· Ecodesk was founded in 2006 and has had support from private investors, some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, and government grants. Founder and CEO Robert Clarke has 25 years of experience in business and sustainability.
www.ecodesk.com
