Modern Law Magazine Issue 67

INSIGHT
INSIGHT
Navigating Your Digital Carbon Footprint
When it comes to being kind to the planet, the role of the legal industry isn’t just to safeguard
and advise clients on the legal implications of their actions, but also to do its own part to
operate in a climate-efficient way. Here, we’ll look specifically at digital carbon footprints in law
firms and what those in the industry need to be mindful of in order to reduce carbon emissions
stemming from digital activities.
Digital carbon footprint
A common assumption is that the
growth of hybrid working must have
been good for the planet, with fewer
people commuting back and forth to
work every day in polluting vehicles
and less energy consumption needed
to power office buildings. But the
fact that remote and hybrid working
has increased the amount of digital
communication taking place doesn’t
come without its own environmental
impact. In fact, The Shift Project
(source*) estimates that the carbon
footprint linked to digital activities
accounts for around 4% of the world’s
total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions -
with the IT sector’s emissions projected
to continue rising exponentially.
The main contributors to the digital
carbon footprint of a business are
typically on-site and remote use of
computers, servers and other digital
devices (such as mobile phones,
tablets, projectors etc.) and the use of
remote internet services like the cloud.
With the emissions from both of these
activities typically coming from both
the manufacturing and use of said
equipment and services.
How law firms can be more
conscious of their digital
carbon footprint
When deciding what equipment is
needed in an office and for employees
to use remotely, law firms should take
into consideration how equipment
is manufactured, what materials are
used, and also the options for disposal.
Ultimate buying decisions should be
made based on this information.
In addition to this, and equally
important, is knowing what servers and
data centres that cloud services use.
Whilst it’s very easy to fall into an ‘out
of sight, out of mind’ mentality when
it comes to cloud services, increasing
regulation will soon make it essential
for all businesses to know - and be able
to report on - the carbon emissions of
all of their suppliers. And that includes
cloud suppliers.
Other, specific steps that law firms can
take to reduce their corporate digital
carbon footprint include:
• Extend the life of IT equipment
Firms should only replace equipment
that has stopped working and is
beyond repair. When replacing
equipment, don’t always buy new
- instead, consider second-hand
or refurbished equipment. There
are also now labels to certify that a
product meets certain sustainability
requirements, so be sure to seek
these out too.
• Identify suppliers with good
carbon intensity
Simply selecting the right partners
can help a business align with the
Paris agreement trajectory to net
zero. Commit to undertaking a
supplier audit to understand the
environmental performance of
existing suppliers and set parameters
that future suppliers must meet.
• Review your cloud supplier
Most cloud providers are huge
contributors to emissions because
of the exponential growth of their
operations. Cloud computing uses
up electricity, and the source of
electricity is not always green. Think
about choosing cloud instances
located in countries with low carbon
energy mixes (such as the Nordics,
Switzerland, France) as opposed to
countries like Ireland.
“It’s more important
than ever for
individuals and firms
of all sizes to get
their house in order.”
How to reduce your own digital
carbon footprint as an employee
The use of computer and electronic
equipment generates a third of an
employee’s total GHG emissions at work.
Therefore, thinking about how you use
this equipment and what you use it for can
help you to reduce your own emissions:
• Turn off your camera
Amazingly, simply having your
camera turned off during a one hour
Zoom call can reduce the carbon
emissions of that call by 96%*.
• Avoid unnecessary email
attachments
Sending an email with a photo
attachment emits over ten times as
many CO2 equivalent emissions as
sending a regular email*. Therefore,
instead opt for links to shared
drives to share files.
• Opt for WiFi over 4G or 5G
Wherever possible, login to local
WiFi networks when needing the
internet. As - for example - watching
a video using WiFi, rather than 4G,
consumes 23 times less energy.
Green credentials, commitments and
policies are becoming a key factor in all
manner of commercial transactions. And
increasing regulation related to carbon
emissions means it’s more important
than ever for individuals and firms of all
sizes to get their house in order to help
future proof their business.
Alexis Normand, co-founder and CEO
at carbon accounting platform, Greenly
The Green Machine
In our tech-centric world, electronic devices have become our faithful companions. From
the moment we wake to our smartphone alarms, to the late-night Netflix binge on our
smart TVs, technology is ever-present. But there’s a dark side to this relentless innovation:
a colossal pile of electronic waste (e-waste), which takes up valuable space and poses a
significant environmental threat.
Our electronic devices have a significant
impact on our environment. The process
of manufacturing a single desktop
computer requires around 539 pounds
of fossil fuels, 48 pounds of chemicals,
and at least 1.5 tons of water. That’s
a staggering number of resources for
just one piece of technology. But it
doesn’t stop there. The production
process generates roughly 150 kgs
of greenhouse gases. Inside your
electronics are rare Earth materials such
as gold, silver, copper, and cobalt. These
resources have limited supplies and are
often hazardous to extract.
So, what’s the answer to this growing
problem? Recycling and Reuse. When
we recycle our electrical equipment,
we reduce its negative effect on the
environment significantly. Creating a more
eco-conscious and circular life cycle for
technology is vital for protecting the planet
from the harmful materials in our devices.
The number of electrical items that get
thrown away is constantly growing, and
currently, only 17.5% of this waste is
recycled appropriately. When we recycle
our old devices, the precious materials
can be extracted and reused, meaning
that we don’t need to mine for more. It
also stops more greenhouse gases from
entering the atmosphere.
Meet Natalie King-Barnard, Head of
Sales and Marketing at Green Machine
Computers. For 12 years, they’ve been
on a mission to protect the environment
and tackle digital poverty by helping
businesses dispose of obsolete IT
equipment securely. The Wiltshire-based
recycling facility is committed to proper
e-waste recycling and disposal. Their
accreditations are proof that they handle
both data and waste materials in a safe
and environmentally friendly way. They
repair and reuse absolutely everything
possible (down to screws and office
furniture), and partner with a number
of charities to rehome useful hardware.
Working with a refinery, they break down
irreparable IT equipment to their core
materials, so that these can be melted
down and reused.
This process liberates office space and
maintains GDPR compliance while
lowering carbon emissions and ensuring
these devices benefit less fortunate
individuals. Green Machine Computers,
with its customers’ help, has cut CO2
emissions by 13,500 metric tonnes in
the last five years. That’s equivalent
to powering 1,701 homes for a year.
This isn’t just about numbers; it’s a
commitment to sustainability. The
dedicated team tests, repairs and reuses
every useable component from the
devices collected, ensuring that nothing
goes to waste. Moreover, Green Machine
Computers offers customers a clear
breakdown of their CO2 savings.
But what about your data? Many
businesses worry about recycling their
devices because of the data they
contain. However, recycling companies
like Green Machine take data security
extremely seriously. They wipe all the
data from every device they recycle as
standard and can provide certificates to
prove this along with a full audit trail of
what has been collected.
Instead of trashing perfectly functional
devices, Green Machine Computers
specialises in refurbishing and
extending the lifespan of electronic
equipment. While collecting and
diverting this equipment, they’ve
been able to refurbish thousands of
devices which have then been donated
to schools, charities and non-profit
organisations across the UK. Green
Machine Computers recognise the
social inequalities perpetuated by the
‘digital divide’. Through partnerships
with schools, charities, and non-profit
organisations, they donate refurbished
devices to disadvantaged communities.
By securely wiping and restoring
unwanted technology, the team can
rehome devices with people in need
who can utilise them for educational,
employment, and social opportunities.
“As our world
continues to
go digital, our
responsibilities
grow.”
So far, their donations have supported
a wide variety of people, from refugees
to local youth groups, from women’s
shelters to children’s hospices. Their
work has ensured that all of that ‘waste’,
has not been wasted.
As our world continues to go digital,
our responsibilities grow. Green
Machine Computers proves that
tackling e-waste is a collective
responsibility to build a sustainable
future for the technology industry.
Natalie King-Barnard, Head of
Sales and Marketing, Green Machine
Computers.
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