GITNUXREPORT 2025

Sustainability In The Ict Industry Statistics

ICT industry’s sustainability improves through green energy, efficient data centers, and recycling.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Data centers consume about 1% of the world's electricity, which is comparable to the entire aviation industry

Statistic 2

Nearly 60% of data center energy consumption is attributable to cooling systems

Statistic 3

The ICT industry can reduce its carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency in hardware and data centers

Statistic 4

Implementing energy-efficient data center cooling technologies can reduce energy consumption by up to 40%

Statistic 5

Cloud computing can be more energy-efficient than traditional IT infrastructure if managed properly

Statistic 6

The proliferation of IoT devices is expected to reach 25.4 billion by 2030, contributing to increased energy demand

Statistic 7

Up to 50% of the energy in blockchain data centers is used for mining, significantly impacting their sustainability

Statistic 8

Using AI for optimizing energy consumption in data centers can save up to 30% energy

Statistic 9

Software optimization and better algorithms can reduce data transmission energy use by up to 20%

Statistic 10

Investing in sustainable ICT infrastructure can lead to a 20-30% reduction in operational costs over five years

Statistic 11

LED lighting in data centers reduces electricity consumption for lighting by about 75%, leading to substantial energy savings

Statistic 12

Transitioning to cloud services can reduce data centers’ energy use by approximately 25-35%, depending on implementation

Statistic 13

The ICT industry’s energy consumption is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3-4% until 2030, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices

Statistic 14

Cloud data storage efficiency improvements could save billions of kWh annually by 2025, reducing associated emissions

Statistic 15

The environmental impact of streaming video accounts for roughly 1% of global electricity consumption, highlighting digital media’s sustainability footprint

Statistic 16

Implementation of smart grids and energy management systems in ICT centers can lead to reductions of up to 20% in energy use

Statistic 17

The energy used in ICT manufacturing and logistics is significant, with efforts underway to green supply chains

Statistic 18

Adoption of energy-efficient hardware standards (e.g., ENERGY STAR) in ICT devices accelerates greener consumption

Statistic 19

Increased adoption of cloud-native architectures can improve scalability and reduce energy waste in ICT

Statistic 20

The ICT sector accounts for roughly 2-4% of global CO2 emissions

Statistic 21

The global ICT industry is responsible for approximately 4% of total greenhouse gas emissions

Statistic 22

About 50% of the world's population has access to the internet, but the rapid growth raises sustainability concerns

Statistic 23

Teleworking and remote collaboration tools have helped reduce travel-related emissions by up to 20%

Statistic 24

The average carbon footprint per smartphone is approximately 55 kg of CO2e during its lifecycle

Statistic 25

84% of enterprises believe sustainable IT is a strategic priority

Statistic 26

Digital transformation efforts have increased ICT hardware deployment, raising both economic and sustainability considerations

Statistic 27

E-waste recycling can recover valuable materials worth $57 billion annually, emphasizing sustainability in e-waste management

Statistic 28

The carbon emissions of ICT manufacturing supply chains can be reduced significantly through sustainable sourcing and logistics

Statistic 29

Lifecycle assessments show that extending the lifespan of consumer electronics by just one year can reduce electronics waste and emissions substantially

Statistic 30

Sustainable data center designs, including modular and evaporative cooling, can cut water and energy use, improving environmental footprint

Statistic 31

Adoption of virtual meetings and remote work reduces the carbon footprint of business travel significantly, with estimates up to 40-50%

Statistic 32

Improving energy efficiency in blockchain networks could reduce their overall energy use by up to 50%, addressing sustainability concerns

Statistic 33

Corporate sustainability reporting in ICT companies increased by over 70% in the past five years, reflecting greater transparency

Statistic 34

The number of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) aligned investments in ICT companies has grown by over 80% in the last three years, reflecting increased sustainability focus

Statistic 35

A shift toward open-source software can decrease hardware resource usage and energy consumption, promoting sustainability

Statistic 36

Sustainability certifications like LEED and BREEAM for ICT facilities are becoming increasingly common, encouraging greener building practices

Statistic 37

The development of sustainable AI can aid in optimizing resource allocation and forecasting climate impacts, supporting sustainability goals

Statistic 38

Environmental impact assessments of ICT infrastructure projects are increasingly required by regulations in many countries, promoting sustainability

Statistic 39

The average lifespan of consumer electronics is about 2-3 years, which leads to significant e-waste

Statistic 40

E-waste generated globally reached 53.6 million metric tons in 2019, expected to grow to 74 million tons by 2030

Statistic 41

The carbon footprint of the IT industry could be reduced by adopting circular economy practices, including refurbishing and recycling equipment

Statistic 42

Use of renewable energy sources in data centers reduces carbon emissions significantly, with some data centers operating entirely on renewables

Statistic 43

The global market for green ICT solutions is projected to reach $239 billion by 2027, growing rapidly due to sustainability initiatives

Statistic 44

70% of organizations are actively investing in clean energy solutions for their ICT infrastructure

Statistic 45

Deploying renewable energy-powered micro data centers can reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency in remote locations

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Key Highlights

The ICT sector accounts for roughly 2-4% of global CO2 emissions
Data centers consume about 1% of the world's electricity, which is comparable to the entire aviation industry
The global ICT industry is responsible for approximately 4% of total greenhouse gas emissions
About 50% of the world's population has access to the internet, but the rapid growth raises sustainability concerns
Nearly 60% of data center energy consumption is attributable to cooling systems
The average lifespan of consumer electronics is about 2-3 years, which leads to significant e-waste
The ICT industry can reduce its carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency in hardware and data centers
Teleworking and remote collaboration tools have helped reduce travel-related emissions by up to 20%
E-waste generated globally reached 53.6 million metric tons in 2019, expected to grow to 74 million tons by 2030
Implementing energy-efficient data center cooling technologies can reduce energy consumption by up to 40%
Use of renewable energy sources in data centers reduces carbon emissions significantly, with some data centers operating entirely on renewables
The average carbon footprint per smartphone is approximately 55 kg of CO2e during its lifecycle
84% of enterprises believe sustainable IT is a strategic priority

As the digital world rapidly expands, the ICT industry—responsible for up to 4% of global greenhouse gases and consuming as much electricity as the aviation sector—is at a pivotal crossroads where innovative, sustainable solutions are essential to mitigate its environmental footprint.

Energy Consumption and Efficiency

Data centers consume about 1% of the world's electricity, which is comparable to the entire aviation industry
Nearly 60% of data center energy consumption is attributable to cooling systems
The ICT industry can reduce its carbon footprint by increasing energy efficiency in hardware and data centers
Implementing energy-efficient data center cooling technologies can reduce energy consumption by up to 40%
Cloud computing can be more energy-efficient than traditional IT infrastructure if managed properly
The proliferation of IoT devices is expected to reach 25.4 billion by 2030, contributing to increased energy demand
Up to 50% of the energy in blockchain data centers is used for mining, significantly impacting their sustainability
Using AI for optimizing energy consumption in data centers can save up to 30% energy
Software optimization and better algorithms can reduce data transmission energy use by up to 20%
Investing in sustainable ICT infrastructure can lead to a 20-30% reduction in operational costs over five years
LED lighting in data centers reduces electricity consumption for lighting by about 75%, leading to substantial energy savings
Transitioning to cloud services can reduce data centers’ energy use by approximately 25-35%, depending on implementation
The ICT industry’s energy consumption is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3-4% until 2030, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices
Cloud data storage efficiency improvements could save billions of kWh annually by 2025, reducing associated emissions
The environmental impact of streaming video accounts for roughly 1% of global electricity consumption, highlighting digital media’s sustainability footprint
Implementation of smart grids and energy management systems in ICT centers can lead to reductions of up to 20% in energy use
The energy used in ICT manufacturing and logistics is significant, with efforts underway to green supply chains
Adoption of energy-efficient hardware standards (e.g., ENERGY STAR) in ICT devices accelerates greener consumption
Increased adoption of cloud-native architectures can improve scalability and reduce energy waste in ICT

Energy Consumption and Efficiency Interpretation

As the digital footprint expands—from data centers cooling down to blockchain mining heating up—industry leaders must harness AI, optimize algorithms, and switch to greener hardware solutions to ensure the ICT sector's energy footprint doesn't turn a global efficiency headline into a climate crisis; after all, with ICT's electricity use matching that of aviation and IoT devices set to flood the market by 2030, sustainable innovation isn't just smart—it's imperative.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability Measures

The ICT sector accounts for roughly 2-4% of global CO2 emissions
The global ICT industry is responsible for approximately 4% of total greenhouse gas emissions
About 50% of the world's population has access to the internet, but the rapid growth raises sustainability concerns
Teleworking and remote collaboration tools have helped reduce travel-related emissions by up to 20%
The average carbon footprint per smartphone is approximately 55 kg of CO2e during its lifecycle
84% of enterprises believe sustainable IT is a strategic priority
Digital transformation efforts have increased ICT hardware deployment, raising both economic and sustainability considerations
E-waste recycling can recover valuable materials worth $57 billion annually, emphasizing sustainability in e-waste management
The carbon emissions of ICT manufacturing supply chains can be reduced significantly through sustainable sourcing and logistics
Lifecycle assessments show that extending the lifespan of consumer electronics by just one year can reduce electronics waste and emissions substantially
Sustainable data center designs, including modular and evaporative cooling, can cut water and energy use, improving environmental footprint
Adoption of virtual meetings and remote work reduces the carbon footprint of business travel significantly, with estimates up to 40-50%
Improving energy efficiency in blockchain networks could reduce their overall energy use by up to 50%, addressing sustainability concerns
Corporate sustainability reporting in ICT companies increased by over 70% in the past five years, reflecting greater transparency
The number of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) aligned investments in ICT companies has grown by over 80% in the last three years, reflecting increased sustainability focus
A shift toward open-source software can decrease hardware resource usage and energy consumption, promoting sustainability
Sustainability certifications like LEED and BREEAM for ICT facilities are becoming increasingly common, encouraging greener building practices
The development of sustainable AI can aid in optimizing resource allocation and forecasting climate impacts, supporting sustainability goals
Environmental impact assessments of ICT infrastructure projects are increasingly required by regulations in many countries, promoting sustainability

Environmental Impact and Sustainability Measures Interpretation

While the ICT industry contributes up to 4% of global greenhouse gases, its rapid digital transformation—encompassing sustainable data centers, extended device lifespans, and greener supply chains—demonstrates a growing awareness that navigating the digital age responsibly is not just a trend but an imperative for planetary health.

Recycling and E-waste Management

The average lifespan of consumer electronics is about 2-3 years, which leads to significant e-waste
E-waste generated globally reached 53.6 million metric tons in 2019, expected to grow to 74 million tons by 2030
The carbon footprint of the IT industry could be reduced by adopting circular economy practices, including refurbishing and recycling equipment

Recycling and E-waste Management Interpretation

With consumer electronics fleeting in years and e-waste swelling to staggering heights, embracing circular economy practices isn't just sustainable—it's essential for transforming the ICT industry's digital footprint from a growing problem into a greener solution.

Renewable Energy and Green ICT Solutions

Use of renewable energy sources in data centers reduces carbon emissions significantly, with some data centers operating entirely on renewables
The global market for green ICT solutions is projected to reach $239 billion by 2027, growing rapidly due to sustainability initiatives
70% of organizations are actively investing in clean energy solutions for their ICT infrastructure
Deploying renewable energy-powered micro data centers can reduce emissions and improve resource efficiency in remote locations

Renewable Energy and Green ICT Solutions Interpretation

As the digital world shifts towards green power, with 70% of organizations investing in renewables and micro data centers leading the charge, it's clear that sustainable ICT isn't just good for the planet—it's becoming an unstoppable economic and environmental force that's powering the industry’s future.