Digital carbon footprint

Stay tuned for tips on how to reduce your digital impact and anticipate future environmental challenges.

Question green: Which of these digital terminals has the highest carbon footprint (manufacturing and lifetime use included)? 📱⌚️

🏁 The iPhone 12 and the iPad 8, ex-aequo, with around 70 kg CO2eq (1)!

📊 Some key information on the carbon footprint of digital technology in the world and in France:

🌍 World: digital technology accounts for nearly 4% (2) of global GHG emissions in 2018. By comparison, aviation represents 2% (3).

🇫🇷 France: digital GHG emissions amount to 15 Mt CO2eq, representing nearly 2% of France's carbon footprint.

Carbon footprint in detail 🔍

In detail, the digital carbon footprint is distributed as follows (4):

55% for the manufacture of terminals 📺💻📱 (including computers 19%, TV 11% and smartphones 11%), data centers and networks.

45% for the use of these terminals and infrastructures 🔌

⚠️ What are the forecasts for the years to come?

According to a study conducted for the French Senate (5), digital-related GHG emissions could increase by 60% in France by 2040, reaching 24 Mt CO2eq if no action is taken.

Globally, the Shift Project estimates that digital technology could represent more than 7% of global GHG emissions by 2025 if no sobriety measures are implemented.

These figures highlight the urgency of adopting more responsible digital practices. Manufacturing remains the largest contributor to the digital carbon footprint, which means extending the lifespan of devices is one of the most effective levers available to businesses and individuals alike.

For companies, the digital footprint goes beyond employee devices. Data centers, cloud storage, video conferencing, and email all contribute to the overall emissions of an organisation. A single email with an attachment generates around 50g of CO2eq, and a one-hour video call can emit up to 150g. Multiply that by thousands of employees and hundreds of working days, and the numbers become significant.

Taking action on digital sobriety does not require a complete overhaul of your infrastructure. Simple measures such as deleting unused files, reducing video streaming quality, or choosing energy-efficient hardware at the time of renewal can already make a meaningful difference.

✅ Next week, we'll talk to you about best practices to reduce your digital carbon footprint 🎯

Stay tuned for tips on how to reduce your digital impact and anticipate future environmental challenges.

Question green: Which of these digital terminals has the highest carbon footprint (manufacturing and lifetime use included)? 📱⌚️

🏁 The iPhone 12 and the iPad 8, ex-aequo, with around 70 kg CO2eq (1)!

📊 Some key information on the carbon footprint of digital technology in the world and in France:

🌍 World: digital technology accounts for nearly 4% (2) of global GHG emissions in 2018. By comparison, aviation represents 2% (3).

🇫🇷 France: digital GHG emissions amount to 15 Mt CO2eq, representing nearly 2% of France's carbon footprint.

Carbon footprint in detail 🔍

In detail, the digital carbon footprint is distributed as follows (4):

55% for the manufacture of terminals 📺💻📱 (including computers 19%, TV 11% and smartphones 11%), data centers and networks.

45% for the use of these terminals and infrastructures 🔌

⚠️ What are the forecasts for the years to come?

According to a study conducted for the French Senate (5), digital-related GHG emissions could increase by 60% in France by 2040, reaching 24 Mt CO2eq if no action is taken.

Globally, the Shift Project estimates that digital technology could represent more than 7% of global GHG emissions by 2025 if no sobriety measures are implemented.

These figures highlight the urgency of adopting more responsible digital practices. Manufacturing remains the largest contributor to the digital carbon footprint, which means extending the lifespan of devices is one of the most effective levers available to businesses and individuals alike.

For companies, the digital footprint goes beyond employee devices. Data centers, cloud storage, video conferencing, and email all contribute to the overall emissions of an organisation. A single email with an attachment generates around 50g of CO2eq, and a one-hour video call can emit up to 150g. Multiply that by thousands of employees and hundreds of working days, and the numbers become significant.

Taking action on digital sobriety does not require a complete overhaul of your infrastructure. Simple measures such as deleting unused files, reducing video streaming quality, or choosing energy-efficient hardware at the time of renewal can already make a meaningful difference.

✅ Next week, we'll talk to you about best practices to reduce your digital carbon footprint 🎯