From the industrial revolution to digital transformation, technology plays two roles. First is making our lives better. Second, and only on hindsight, is causing environmental problems. But now, there’s a third one. That is, fixing the mistakes and building a sustainable future.
Indeed, “technology is a double-edged sword capable both of doing and undoing damage to environmental quality.”
Table of Contents
How tech companies address sustainability?
Today, tech companies don’t only push the boundaries of innovation. But unfortunately, they also promote consumerism and constant growth—with dire consequences to the environment.
On the other hand, however, tech companies have the reach, influence, and resources to reverse the damage. So, let’s look at some of the world’s most valuable tech companies and see how they’re embracing and encouraging sustainability.
1. Intel Corporation
Intel rose to fame for making the chips in personal computers, smartphones, and tablets. Since the 2000s, the technology demands of consumers and businesses have changed. Thus, the American multinational company pivoted into the data center business. Now, Intel is growing its Internet of Things and artificial intelligence capabilities.
In May 2020, Intel launched its 10-year corporate responsibility strategy and goals. It includes plans for accelerating adoption of sustainable practices, access to technology, and revolutionizing health and safety.
Focusing on sustainability, Intel aims to achieve absolute carbon emissions reduction, 100% renewable energy use, net-positive water use, and zero-total waste to landfill.
In terms of concrete steps, the tech company intends to create a sustainable and energy-efficient PC that “eliminates carbon, water, and waste in design and use.” Intel also intends to “enable sensor technology to reduce power usage, partner with material vendors on recyclable packaging, and develop longer-term, energy-efficient architectures.”
2. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company
TSMC designs and manufactures high-quality circuits, transistors, and semiconductors at scale. This makes it the world’s most valuable and largest dedicated, independent semiconductor foundry. One of its well-known customers is Apple.
Looking through its website, TSMC has an extensive strategy for sustainable value creation that involves the economy, environment, and society. The semiconductor company incorporates sustainability principles in different business areas such as product and service innovation, supplier management, and green manufacturing.
Recently, TSMC signed the world’s largest renewables corporate power purchase agreementwith Ørsted. Shortly after, the company announced its commitment through the RE100 to source 100% of its power from renewable sources only. To note, RE100 is a collaborative initiative of businesses committed to 100% renewable power.
3. Apple
Apple designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and digital services. It’s one of the Tech Giants along with Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Facebook. By revenue, Apple is the largest tech company, with 500+ retail stores in 25 countries and 137,000+ employees worldwide.
In July 2020, Apple announced its commitment to be 100% carbon neutral across its entire business, manufacturing supply chain, and product lifestyle. This means that by 2030, every Apple device is expected to have net zero climate impact.
How do the company plan to do that? Apple intends to reduce emissions by 75% and develop carbon removal solutions for the remaining 25%. In particular, its roadmap includes low carbon product design, expansion of efficient and renewable energy, process and material innovations, and carbon removal. Give it a read here!
4. Samsung Electronics
When it comes to smartphones, Samsung is known as Apple’s most competitive opponent. But the South Korean company also produces various consumer electronics, appliances, and security systems. By revenue, it’s the world’s largest manufacturer of consumer electronics, with plants and networks in 74 countries and 290,000+ employees.
One of the tech companies’ sustainability plans, Samsung released its latest Sustainability Report in June 2020. It discusses outcomes of its sustainable management activities which include “not just products but also packaging, upcycling, and the processing of materials.” Samsung is said to be on track to reach 100% renewable energy usage soon.
Moreover, the consumer electronics manufacturer is transitioning to a circular economy. Samsung plans to utilize sustainable materials and minimize waste. In particular, the company is gradually replacing plastic and vinyl in packaging with paper.
5. Alibaba
Alibaba is China’s largest eCommerce company. Besides digital shopping, Alibaba is also growing its business in physical retail such as supermarkets and grocery delivery. Moreover, the company is expanding in international retail, cloud computing, digital media, and financial technology.
While mass consumption (that retail and eCommerce generally perpetuate) is the antithesis of sustainable development, Alibaba does have a sustainability strategy.
According to its website, Alibaba implements “environmentally sustainable business models across various sectors, such as manufacturing, retail, logistics and cloud computing.” For instance, the company’s data center features a cooling system that uses lake water to cut energy costs.
Alibaba also promotes green logistics though the Cainiao Green Alliance. Initiatives include green packaging using degradable materials, and green warehouses using solar panels. The Cainiao Network also utilizes a packaging optimization algorithm that “on average reduces the use of packaging materials by approximately 15%.”
6. Alphabet
Alphabet is the holding company of Google, which is Facebook’s main rival when it comes to digital advertising. Besides being the world’s most dominant search engine, Google has increasing market share in eCommerce and social media, consumer electronics, smart devices, and autonomous cars.
Since 2007, Alphabet has been carbon neutral. For the past three years, the company has matched its entire electricity consumption with renewables. Besides environmental sustainability, the technology multinational company also made investments in affordable housing and promoted racial equity.
Its most recent initiative to promote sustainability was issuing the largest green bond by any company. Last week, Alphabet sold $10 billion of bonds, including $5.75 billion of sustainability notes.
7. Microsoft
From computer software and hardware to artificial intelligence, Microsoft is the one of the most powerful technology players since the 1990s. The multinational company develops, manufactures, licenses, and sells consumer electronics, social networking service, cloud computing, video games, and more.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030. Furthermore, by 2050, it plans to “remove from the environment all the carbon the company has emitted either directly or by electrical consumption since it was founded in 1975.”
Some of the sustainable initiatives the company is doing to achieve these goals include launching a new $1 billion climate innovation fund, making carbon reduction a part of procurement process, and implementing an advocacy campaign that supports relevant public policies. Read the details here.
What should you do next?
These are just seven of many tech companies’ sustainability roadmaps. Other most valuable businesses that have the capabilities to contribute to a better, sustainable world include Amazon, Facebook, Tencent Holdings, and more.
Why do we need to know these things? It’s because sustainability is everyone’s responsibility. Both consumers and businesses must be accountable—even more for tech companies who are powerful enough to drive how the world works.
As Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO shared, “Businesses have a profound opportunity to help build a more sustainable future, one born of our common concern for the planet we share. Climate action can be the foundation for a new era of innovative potential, job creation, and durable economic growth.”
Which one of these tech companies’ sustainability plans did you find the best?
The original version of this content was posted on decouped.com which you can view here.
