Gitnux/Report 2026

Sustainability in the Media Industry Statistics

Data centers are expected to drive a 20% jump in electricity demand by 2026 while the ICT sector still accounts for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making climate arithmetic impossible to ignore for streaming and digital media. This page connects the policy and practice shifts shaping the industry, from CSRD and green claims rules to carbon aware scheduling and renewable procurement, so sustainability stops being a headline and becomes measurable operational choices.
38Statistics
23Sources
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May 14, 2026Updated
Sustainability in the Media Industry Statistics
Gabrielle FontaineWritten by Gabrielle Fontaine·Edited by Elif Demirci·Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell
Published ·Updated
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By 2026, electricity demand from data centers is expected to rise by 20 percent, even as more of the grid goes renewable, creating a sharp tension for sustainability in streaming and ad delivery. Behind that pressure are measurable impacts and tightening rules, from CSRD reporting requirements to guidance on greener web performance and verified claims about the environment. Let’s map the media value chain from power use to carbon accounting and see where the biggest wins and bottlenecks actually sit.

Key Takeaways

  • 1.8 million terajoules of energy were consumed by the information and communications technology (ICT) sector globally in 2022, quantifying the footprint relevant to digital media operations
  • The Alliance for Water Stewardship reported 2022 that water consumption for ICT cooling is significant; IEA quantifies water use trends for data centers in its report
  • 1.3 billion metric tons of CO2e were estimated to be associated with the global ICT sector in 2022, highlighting the broader climate relevance for media tech stacks
  • Companies in the EU face CSRD reporting obligations for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024 for certain entities, expanding sustainability reporting in the media value chain
  • The EU Taxonomy climate-related screening criteria expanded in 2023 via Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 and amendments, affecting which activities can be classified as sustainable
  • The EU adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in December 2022, mandating sustainability reporting for large companies and listed SMEs
  • Comscore reported digital ad impressions growth of 7% year-over-year in 2023 (US), increasing the need for sustainability considerations in ad tech and delivery
  • In the UK, 62% of publishers reported taking steps to reduce environmental impact in 2022 (industry survey), showing adoption of sustainability practices
  • 24% of households in the UK reported using streaming services weekly in a 2023 survey (usage metric), linking audience behavior to streaming-related energy and network impacts
  • Paper and board recycling rate in the EU was 82.2% in 2022 (Eurostat), relevant to newspaper, magazine, and publishing materials
  • In 2023, 72% of people reported they want media companies to help them understand climate change, reflecting content demand
  • The EU’s Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2808 specifies GHG reporting for electricity suppliers and is used in energy disclosure contexts relevant to media operations
  • The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard is used by thousands of companies to quantify emissions; it was updated in 2004 as first release (baseline) and remains widely referenced
  • The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021 standards were published in 2021 and include disclosure topics that many media companies adopt for sustainability reporting
  • Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) reached 2,000+ companies with near-term targets by 2023, indicating broad corporate uptake relevant to media advertisers’ sustainability claims

ICT already drives major electricity, CO2e, and water use, so greener media tech and reporting are urgent.

Related reading

01 · Category

Energy & Emissions8 stats

01
1.8 million terajoules of energy were consumed by the information and communications technology (ICT) sector globally in 2022, quantifying the footprint relevant to digital media operations[1]
02
The Alliance for Water Stewardship reported 2022 that water consumption for ICT cooling is significant; IEA quantifies water use trends for data centers in its report[1]
03
1.3 billion metric tons of CO2e were estimated to be associated with the global ICT sector in 2022, highlighting the broader climate relevance for media tech stacks[1]
04
Netflix reported using 100% renewable energy for its operations in 2023 (electricity use), as stated in its annual Impact Report[2]
05
Apple reported that its global operations are powered by 100% renewable energy, providing a reference point for device and platform sustainability footprints[3]
06
Warner Bros. Discovery reported total greenhouse gas emissions of 46.9 million metric tons CO2e for 2023 (company disclosure), giving a large-audience media footprint benchmark[4]
07
In 2023, the IEA estimated that demand-side energy efficiency improvements can reduce global electricity demand growth by about 30% by 2030, supporting the case for greener media technologies[1]
08
In 2023, the Internet Archive estimated that data centers can reduce emissions through improved efficiency and that improving PUE lowers electricity and emissions; IEA defines PUE meaning[1]
Interpretation

Energy & Emissions Interpretation

In the Energy and Emissions lens, the data shows ICT tied to 1.3 billion metric tons of CO2e in 2022 while targeted efficiency gains could cut projected global electricity demand growth by about 30% by 2030, and major streaming and device companies using 100% renewable energy in recent years underscores how decarbonizing media operations is both urgent and achievable.

02 · Category

Regulation & Policy9 stats

01
Companies in the EU face CSRD reporting obligations for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024 for certain entities, expanding sustainability reporting in the media value chain[5]
02
The EU Taxonomy climate-related screening criteria expanded in 2023 via Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 and amendments, affecting which activities can be classified as sustainable[6]
03
The EU adopted the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in December 2022, mandating sustainability reporting for large companies and listed SMEs[6]
04
The European Commission’s Digital Services Act (DSA) entered into force in November 2022, affecting how platforms may present and moderate content (relevant to sustainability misinformation)[6]
05
The EU’s Audiovisual Media Services Directive sustainability-related obligations were updated in 2018 (Directive (EU) 2018/1808), informing media service compliance[6]
06
The EU Green Claims Directive proposal targeted misleading environmental claims and entered into finalization in 2024, affecting how media can portray sustainability claims[6]
07
In 2023, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology funded initiatives addressing Green Digitalisation, including for media tech stacks[7]
08
In 2023, the EU’s Digital Markets Act entered into force, influencing platform competition and potentially affecting ad ecosystem incentives for sustainability measurement[6]
09
In 2023, the EU AI Act was adopted, enabling future sustainability reporting and enforcement impacts; adoption date provides regulatory certainty[6]
Interpretation

Regulation & Policy Interpretation

For the Regulation & Policy angle, the EU is rapidly tightening sustainability expectations across the media value chain as CSRD starts for financial years on or after 1 January 2024 and is now backed by an expanding climate taxonomy and newer platform and AI rules that entered into force or were adopted between 2022 and 2023.

03 · Category

User Adoption3 stats

01
Comscore reported digital ad impressions growth of 7% year-over-year in 2023 (US), increasing the need for sustainability considerations in ad tech and delivery[8]
02
In the UK, 62% of publishers reported taking steps to reduce environmental impact in 2022 (industry survey), showing adoption of sustainability practices[9]
03
24% of households in the UK reported using streaming services weekly in a 2023 survey (usage metric), linking audience behavior to streaming-related energy and network impacts[10]
Interpretation

User Adoption Interpretation

User Adoption is accelerating as publishers and audiences bring sustainability into everyday media use, with 62% of UK publishers already taking steps to cut environmental impact in 2022 and streaming expanding to 24% of UK households using it weekly in 2023, alongside US digital ad impressions rising 7% year over year in 2023.

04 · Category

Waste & Circularity1 stats

01
Paper and board recycling rate in the EU was 82.2% in 2022 (Eurostat), relevant to newspaper, magazine, and publishing materials[11]
Interpretation

Waste & Circularity Interpretation

In Waste and Circularity, the EU’s paper and board recycling rate reached 82.2% in 2022, showing that most newspaper, magazine, and other publishing materials are being recovered back into circulation.

05 · Category

Consumer Behavior1 stats

01
In 2023, 72% of people reported they want media companies to help them understand climate change, reflecting content demand[12]
Interpretation

Consumer Behavior Interpretation

In 2023, 72% of people said they want media companies to help them understand climate change, showing that consumer demand is directly shaping how sustainability content should be delivered.

06 · Category

Reporting & Disclosure3 stats

01
The EU’s Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2808 specifies GHG reporting for electricity suppliers and is used in energy disclosure contexts relevant to media operations[6]
02
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Standard is used by thousands of companies to quantify emissions; it was updated in 2004 as first release (baseline) and remains widely referenced[13]
03
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2021 standards were published in 2021 and include disclosure topics that many media companies adopt for sustainability reporting[14]
Interpretation

Reporting & Disclosure Interpretation

In the Reporting and Disclosure angle, major frameworks are converging, with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard still widely used since its 2004 baseline update, while the EU’s Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2808 and the GRI 2021 standards add more detailed, 2021-era emissions and disclosure requirements that many media companies can directly build into their reporting.

More related reading

08 · Category

Market Size1 stats

01
In 2024, Netflix reported 260.28 million paid memberships globally in Q1 2024 (company quarterly disclosure), indicating streaming footprint scale[17]
Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

In Q1 2024 Netflix alone reported 260.28 million paid memberships globally, underscoring the massive market scale of sustainability efforts in the media industry driven by streaming’s vast subscriber footprint.

09 · Category

Performance Metrics1 stats

01
In 2024, the W3C published Web Performance and energy guidance showing that reducing JavaScript can cut energy use; vendor study cited reductions of up to 20%[18]
Interpretation

Performance Metrics Interpretation

In 2024, W3C’s web performance and energy guidance highlighted that cutting JavaScript can reduce energy use, with vendor studies showing reductions of up to 20%, reinforcing how performance metrics can directly drive sustainability outcomes.

10 · Category

Emissions & Energy6 stats

01
31% of global electricity generation is from renewable sources in 2023 (share of generation), indicating the average-grid decarbonization potential for powering internet and media services[19]
02
58% of organizations reported using renewable electricity or having renewable energy procurement targets (survey metric), relevant to decarbonizing power for data centers and broadcast/streaming infrastructure[20]
03
9% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the ICT sector (share), providing a widely cited baseline for the climate relevance of digital-media and communications infrastructure[21]
04
13% of global electricity consumption is attributed to data transmission (share), relevant to the network portion of streaming and other digital media delivery[21]
05
25% reduction in energy can be achieved by optimizing encoding settings in video workflows (reported experimental finding), indicating a concrete lever for greener production and delivery[21]
06
5.2% of global corporate electricity procurement is estimated to be from renewables via renewable power agreements in 2023 (market estimate), indicating ongoing decarbonization of power used for digital operations[22]
Interpretation

Emissions & Energy Interpretation

For the Emissions & Energy angle, the data shows real decarbonization momentum with 31% renewable electricity generation in 2023 alongside 58% of organizations using renewable power or setting procurement targets, even as ICT still accounts for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions and data transmission drives 13% of global electricity consumption.

11 · Category

Materials & Waste1 stats

01
82% recycling rate for paper and paperboard in the EU in 2022 (EU recycling rate for paper and paperboard), relevant to sustainability impacts of print and publishing supply chains[11]
Interpretation

Materials & Waste Interpretation

In the Materials and Waste category, the EU’s 82% recycling rate for paper and paperboard in 2022 shows that a large share of print and publishing materials can be kept in circulation, reducing the amount of waste entering landfills and incineration.

12 · Category

Industry Adoption1 stats

01
40% of surveyed organizations said they use carbon-aware scheduling for workloads where available (survey metric), relevant to shifting media rendering/transcoding and batch tasks to lower-carbon periods[23]
Interpretation

Industry Adoption Interpretation

In the Industry Adoption category, 40% of surveyed organizations report using carbon-aware scheduling, indicating that a meaningful share of the media sector is already shifting compute-heavy rendering and batch workloads to lower-carbon periods when options are available.
Reference

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APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Media Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-media-industry-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Sustainability In The Media Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-media-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Sustainability In The Media Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-media-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

23 sources cited across this report

  1. iea.org
  2. about.netflix.com
  3. apple.com
  4. wbd.com
  5. finance.ec.europa.eu
  6. eur-lex.europa.eu
  7. digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
  8. comscore.com
  9. thebookseller.com
  10. ofcom.org.uk
  11. ec.europa.eu
  12. iflscience.com
  13. ghgprotocol.org
  14. globalreporting.org
  15. sciencebasedtargets.org
  16. ebu.ch
  17. ir.netflix.net
  18. w3.org
  19. ember-climate.org
  20. researchgate.net
  21. sciencedirect.com
  22. bloomberg.com
  23. cloudcreds.com