Sustainability In The Security Industry Statistics 2026

Security operations are now tracked with metrics that tie facilities, devices, and data delivery to measurable environmental impact. The global data center colocation market reaches $13.9 billion, and 67% of data center operators name sustainability as a key investment driver. That measurement pressure extends to electricity use, logistics footprints, and battery lifecycles as EU renewable and emissions rules reshape operational decisions.

Key Takeaways

$9.3 billion global security services market size in 2023
$34.0 billion global building energy management systems market size in 2023
$13.9 billion global data center colocation market size in 2024
1.5°C is the Paris Agreement temperature goal, which drives decarbonization requirements relevant to security industry operations (e.g., facilities, logistics, and hardware lifecycle emissions)
18% of global GHG emissions come from transport, affecting security logistics and field services footprints
9.2 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean annually (Jambeck et al., 2015), shaping sustainability risks and mitigation efforts for materials used in security packaging and equipment
9% reduction potential in global electricity consumption from data centers via efficiency improvements, informing cost savings for security cloud/video workloads
2.6x reduction in total cost of ownership for buildings with energy efficiency retrofits in many cases, influencing demand for greener facility security integrations (e.g., access control HVAC optimization)
$1.0 trillion estimated annual global building investment need for energy efficiency over time (IEA), which drives security integration spend in energy-managed building portfolios
The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive requires a binding EU target of 42.5% renewable energy by 2030 (with a 45% target if an upscaling occurs), shaping procurement for energy-intensive security operations
The EU Emissions Trading System covers around 40% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, influencing decarbonization costs for facilities used by security providers and related operations
The EU Battery Regulation sets requirements aimed at improving environmental sustainability across the battery life cycle (production, use, and disposal), relevant to battery-powered surveillance and security devices
67% of data center operators report that sustainability is a key driver for investment decisions, indicating demand for greener operations in the security data-delivery layer
GHG Protocol requires selection of an emissions factor method for Scope 2 (location-based or market-based), enabling verifiable measurement for sustainability reporting
ISO 14001:2015 specifies requirements for an environmental management system, providing a framework adopted by organizations including security vendors seeking certified environmental governance

Security firms are being driven by energy, emissions, and regulation to scale sustainable services, data centers, and devices.

01 · Category

Market Size3 stats

$9.3 billion global security services market size in 2023

$34.0 billion global building energy management systems market size in 2023

$13.9 billion global data center colocation market size in 2024

Interpretation

Market Size Interpretation

For the Market Size lens on sustainability in the security industry, the opportunity is widening across adjacent segments, with the global security services market at $9.3 billion in 2023 alongside much larger 2023 building energy management systems at $34.0 billion and a growing $13.9 billion data center colocation market in 2024.

02 · Category

Industry Trends5 stats

1.5°C is the Paris Agreement temperature goal, which drives decarbonization requirements relevant to security industry operations (e.g., facilities, logistics, and hardware lifecycle emissions)

18% of global GHG emissions come from transport, affecting security logistics and field services footprints

9.2 million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean annually (Jambeck et al., 2015), shaping sustainability risks and mitigation efforts for materials used in security packaging and equipment

The U.S. EPA estimates that the electronics sector generates a significant portion of municipal waste streams, supporting e-waste diversion and lifecycle measures for security electronics

The European Commission reports that only 38% of waste electrical and electronic equipment was collected in the EU in 2019, emphasizing need for improved collection and recycling relevant to surveillance devices

Interpretation

Industry Trends Interpretation

The security industry is being pushed toward measurable sustainability changes as the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target tightens decarbonization expectations and growing environmental pressures from sectors like transport and electronics are evident, including transport’s 18% share of global GHG emissions and the EU collecting only 38% of waste electrical and electronic equipment in 2019.

03 · Category

Cost Analysis7 stats

9% reduction potential in global electricity consumption from data centers via efficiency improvements, informing cost savings for security cloud/video workloads

2.6x reduction in total cost of ownership for buildings with energy efficiency retrofits in many cases, influencing demand for greener facility security integrations (e.g., access control HVAC optimization)

$1.0 trillion estimated annual global building investment need for energy efficiency over time (IEA), which drives security integration spend in energy-managed building portfolios

Up to 25% reduction in energy consumption is possible by implementing best practices in data center energy management (Uptime Institute research summarized in industry guidance)

Tesla reports that switching fleets to electric can reduce energy costs per mile compared with conventional fuel in many operating scenarios, relevant to security patrol fleets where deployed

A 2020 lifecycle assessment review found that circularity strategies (reuse, repair, refurbishment) can reduce life-cycle impacts versus linear disposal in many electronics cases

A 2019 peer-reviewed study reported that extended product lifetime (repair/refurbishment) can significantly reduce environmental impacts for electronic products compared to replacement

Interpretation

Cost Analysis Interpretation

Across the cost analysis picture, efficiency and smarter operations are consistently delivering financial upside, with data center electricity consumption cutting potential of up to 9% and energy management best practices enabling as much as a 25% reduction, while building energy efficiency retrofits can lower total cost of ownership by 2.6x in many cases.

04 · Category

Regulatory Pressure8 stats

The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive requires a binding EU target of 42.5% renewable energy by 2030 (with a 45% target if an upscaling occurs), shaping procurement for energy-intensive security operations

The EU Emissions Trading System covers around 40% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions, influencing decarbonization costs for facilities used by security providers and related operations

The EU Battery Regulation sets requirements aimed at improving environmental sustainability across the battery life cycle (production, use, and disposal), relevant to battery-powered surveillance and security devices

In 2023, the EU required large companies to report sustainability information under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as implemented via national laws, increasing compliance for security-industrial suppliers

The EU Taxonomy Regulation provides criteria to determine whether an economic activity is environmentally sustainable, influencing green financing and procurement decisions in security-related sectors

The UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires certain businesses to publish a slavery and human trafficking statement annually, affecting security supply-chain practices for hardware and labor

The U.S. SEC climate disclosure rule (adopted in 2024) would require certain public companies to disclose Scope 1, Scope 2, and material Scope 3 emissions—pending legal outcomes—impacting security-sector issuers’ sustainability reporting

The EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation establishes eco-design requirements and a digital product passport for certain products, affecting sustainability governance for security hardware

Interpretation

Regulatory Pressure Interpretation

Regulatory pressure on sustainability in the security industry is accelerating across Europe and the UK, from the EU’s 42.5% renewable energy target by 2030 and its ETS coverage of about 40% of greenhouse gas emissions to the CSRD requiring large companies to report sustainability information in 2023, plus UK Modern Slavery Act annual disclosures.

05 · Category

Operational Metrics6 stats

67% of data center operators report that sustainability is a key driver for investment decisions, indicating demand for greener operations in the security data-delivery layer

GHG Protocol requires selection of an emissions factor method for Scope 2 (location-based or market-based), enabling verifiable measurement for sustainability reporting

ISO 14001:2015 specifies requirements for an environmental management system, providing a framework adopted by organizations including security vendors seeking certified environmental governance

ISO 50001 enables organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and improve energy management systems, supporting measurable energy reductions relevant to security hardware and facilities

TÜV SÜD notes that smart charging and energy management can reduce peak demand and energy costs for connected fleets, applicable to security patrol/logistics vehicles

A 2020 academic paper reported that energy-efficient computer vision techniques can significantly reduce power consumption compared with baseline models in surveillance workloads

Interpretation

Operational Metrics Interpretation

Operational metrics in the security industry are increasingly tied to measurable sustainability outcomes, with 67% of data center operators citing sustainability as a key investment driver and standards like ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 enabling consistent tracking of environmental and energy performance.

Sustainability In IndustrySustainability In The Motion Picture Industry Statistics

06 · Category

User Adoption8 stats

30% of IT decision-makers say sustainability is a top factor in choosing cloud service providers, affecting security SaaS and managed services

61% of enterprises state they have sustainability goals tied to IT, which can include energy efficiency and responsible hardware usage in security operations

78% of organizations have sustainability targets or are planning to implement them, accelerating demand for sustainability-linked products and services

53% of IT professionals report pressure to reduce the environmental impact of their organizations, including through data and device operations relevant to security infrastructure

75% of respondents in a survey reported they plan to increase the use of renewable energy in their operations over time

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) reports that thousands of companies have submitted near- and long-term emission-reduction targets, influencing decarbonization planning among security technology suppliers

58% of consumers say they would change consumption habits to reduce environmental impact if they had information, relevant to sustainable security product purchasing decisions

1.5 million enterprises are covered by the U.S. SEC’s supply chain disclosure expectations indirectly through investor pressure, driving sustainability-related due diligence among vendors supplying security products

Interpretation

User Adoption Interpretation

User adoption for sustainable security is accelerating fast, with 78% of organizations already having sustainability targets and 30% of IT decision-makers choosing cloud providers based on sustainability, showing that environmental commitments are becoming a real buying driver.

07 · Category

Industry Emissions2 stats

3.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions came from electricity and heat production in 2016 (latest IEA estimate used in the source), relevant to grid-driven emissions for security data delivery and device charging

31% of global final energy consumption was used for industry in 2022, relevant to energy use in security equipment and infrastructure operations

Interpretation

Industry Emissions Interpretation

For the Industry Emissions angle, the key takeaway is that while electricity and heat production still account for 3.9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, industry also uses 31% of global final energy, underscoring how much security equipment and infrastructure operations are tied to higher-emitting energy systems.

08 · Category

Market Drivers1 stats

8.3% of global corporate bond issuance was sustainable in 2023 (as reported by Moody’s/S&P methodology summaries in the cited report), indicating growing financing demand tied to sustainability

Interpretation

Market Drivers Interpretation

In 2023, 8.3% of global corporate bond issuance was classified as sustainable, signaling growing investor demand for sustainability frameworks that can shape market drivers across the security industry.

09 · Category

Energy & Efficiency1 stats

58.7% of U.S. data center energy use in 2022 was used for the two largest categories (IT equipment + cooling), informing where security operators can prioritize efficiency improvements

Interpretation

Energy & Efficiency Interpretation

In the Energy and Efficiency lens, 58.7% of U.S. data center energy use in 2022 went to IT equipment plus cooling, signaling that security operations that reduce load in these areas can have outsized impact.

report visual · Breakdown

Sustainability pressure shaping security operations

Across the security value chain, sustainability is increasingly driving investment and procurement decisions—especially in data centers and cloud services.

25%

Up to 25% reduction in energy consumption is possible by implementing best practices in data center energy management (U

75%

75% of respondents in a survey reported they plan to increase the use of renewable energy in their operations over time

source-verifieduptimeinstitute.com · iea.org

Reference

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APA

Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Security Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-security-industry-statistics

MLA

Felix Zimmermann. "Sustainability In The Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-security-industry-statistics.

Chicago

Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Sustainability In The Security Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-security-industry-statistics.