The 2020s – termed the ‘decade of action’ by the U.N. – is the age of climate change. With every new year comes a rapidly-growing awareness that it is vital for the planet to minimise global warming to below 1.5°C (2.7°F). In order to achieve this objective, it is indisputable that there needs to be sustained, significant scale reductions in emissions and this needs to begin immediately. In the business world, the shift towards sustainability continues with more and more stakeholders demanding quicker and more impactful action on climate change.
Today, many business supply chains are being structured in a way that places a much greater emphasis on sustainability and the adoption of environmentally friendly practices. One such area that continues to see change is data, which is gradually becoming greener with the introduction of green data centres.
In this post, OCI takes a look at the role of green data in supply chains, evaluating the importance of sustainable data centre investments and looking towards the future, as we get deeper into the ‘decade of action’. To learn more about our finance and supply chain management services, please contact us today.
What is Green Data?
Green data is data which is stored, managed and disseminated in a way that optimises energy efficiency and reduces overall environmental impact. In 2022, more and more companies are becoming aware of the impact of their data on the environment; as a consequence, there has been a noticeable shift towards greener data practices.
All stakeholders – from shareholders to employees and customers – are calling on companies to be more sustainable in regard to their data management and storage.
Datacenter for storing large amounts of data, and is an important hub for the internet
The role Green Data Centres play in a Sustainable Future
One of the most significant developments in the green data space over the past few years has been the introduction of green data centres. These eco-friendly data centres have been specially designed and constructed to help toward a sustainable future and the society-wide goal of net-zero. Green data centres employ a diverse range of cutting-edge technologies and smart strategies to decrease their wider impact on the environment.
For example, green data centres are usually built with low-emission building materials, carpets and paints. They often have a significantly minimised building footprint, incorporate sustainable landscaping and follow the most recent e-waste recycling guidelines. Similarly, green data centres are often leading the way in terms of using alternative energy sources – whether this be photovoltaic technology, heat pumps or evaporative cooling technology.
Ultimately, there are a multitude of ways that a data centre can ensure greener data and increased sustainability. What’s most important is that it’s the responsibility of all stakeholders to come together to encourage and promote sustainable data practices. Green data practices go a significant way towards reducing the overall energy consumption and emissions of data centres. With climate change becoming one of the biggest issues of our times, it’s imperative that corporations play their part in this area, in both the short term and long term.
Importance of Sustainable Data Centre Investments
Every year, the amount of data that is being produced and consumed on a global scale is continuing to increase significantly. It is expected that the use of data will quadruple by 2025. With this in mind, it’s important that there is a drive toward reducing emissions and energy consumption from data. The way to achieve this is to invest in the most sustainable data centres possible – which means green, clean data centre environments.
Investing in sustainable data centres will encourage the use of renewable energy and help accelerate the shift towards a greener future. It’s the best course of action for the whole of society, simultaneously increasing our digital connectivity and helping support the achievement of global climate change aims.
How to Ensure Green Data with the IoT and 5G
The Internet of Things (IoT) is creating brand-new internet-connected devices and 5G technology is enabling these devices to communicate together at ever-increasing speed. Both of these two technologies are consuming vast amounts of power and as a result, creating plenty of waste and emissions. Therefore, it’s critical to ensure that green practices are embedded within the IoT and 5G technologies. Doing so will maximise efficiency, reduce consumption, bring down operating costs and limit environmental pollution.
Edge computing will help to get the most out of the IoT and 5G, by allowing data to be handled and stored in close proximity to where it is generated. This will mean that data doesn’t need to travel from a far-away data centre. Consequently, this will be hugely beneficial in terms of sustainability. Edge computing allows for environmental sustainability, as the data is stored next to the user, so fewer carbon emissions are involved.
About OCI
OCI is the world’s first in commercial process outsourcing. We advance business growth with tailored commercial management solutions, drawing on our extensive global network and highly specialist expertise. Our supply chain experts optimise the performance of large corporates and governments, working in close collaboration with clients from all across the globe.
We will unlock your supply chain’s ultimate potential, delivering cost efficiency, increased returns on investment, and providing rapid execution. From the manufacturing and consumables sectors to the healthcare, agricultural and industrial sectors, OCI maintains a strong, committed presence in multiple areas – consistently creating and delivering sustained shared value.
If you would like to learn more about how OCI can create value within your finance and supply chain management, then please do not hesitate to contact us directly today. Simply complete the contact form on our website and our team will respond to your inquiry as quickly as possible, answering any queries you may have.