Technology’s Role in Sustainability: Environmental Goals and Standards

Technology is the critical path to business sustainability, and IT leaders have a unique opportunity to transform their functions, enterprises and industries to ensure a sustainable future. This presentation highlights IT’s challenges, goals, and actions, and introduces the first-ever set of technology-specific standards for measuring, tracking and reporting environmental impact.

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Developed and endorsed by a diverse group of international chief information, technology and digital officers, the SustainableIT standards are grouped into four main categories.

Technology Environmental Sustainability Standards v1.0

Until now, IT functions and enterprises lacked a consistent set of sustainability metrics and KPIs relevant to the software, devices, and data that now dominate all aspects of business operations. Each of the approximately 50 standards below has a unique SustainableIT (SIT) code to better identify it for reference and reporting (see explanation at right). While many of the standards include hover-over notes providing information, for further details and links to source materials, download our Environmental Standards Explanations and References.

 

 

Energy (100)

Function-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EF 110-1.a Metric kWh consumption by location, time of day, per end user (include EF 111-1.a, 112-1, 113-1.a)
SIT EF 110-1.b Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EF 110-2.a Metric kWh consumption by location, time of day, per end user (include EF 111-2.a, 113-2.a)
SIT EF 110-2.b Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EF 111-1.a Metric kWh rack power consumption by location, room, time of day, per end user
SIT EF 111-1.b Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EF 111-1.c Metric ekWh per capita (end user)
SIT EF 111-1.d Metric Power usage efficiency (PUE)
SIT EF 111-1.e Metric Percentage data centers complying with EU Data Centre Code of Conduct
SIT EF 111-2.a Metric kWh consumption by location, room, time of day, per end user
SIT EF 111-2.b Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EF 111-2.c Metric ekWh per capita (end user)
SIT EF 111-2.d Metric Power usage efficiency (PUE)
SIT EF 111-2.e Metric Percentage data centers complying with EU Data Centre Code of Conduct
SIT EF 111-3 Metric Percentage data center workloads that are portable
SIT EF 112-1 Metric kWH consumption by location
SIT EF 112-2 Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EF 113-1.a Metric kWh consumption by location, room, time of day, per end user
SIT EF 113-1.b Metric kWh consumption for software updates
SIT EF 113-1.c Metric Percentage portfolio on renewable energy
SIT EF 113-1.d Metric Percentage development following green design & code practices
SIT EF 113-2.a Metric kWh consumption by location, room, time of day, per end user
SIT EF 113-2.b Metric kWh consumption for software updates
SIT EF 113-2.c Metric Percentage portfolio on renewable energy
SIT EF 113-2.d Metric Percentage portfolio delivered by third parties
SIT EF 113-3 Metric Percentage using containers, microservices, serverless
SIT EF 113-4 Metric Number applications per end user
SIT EF 113-5 Metric Percentage portfolio green coded
SIT EF 120-1 Metric Percentage cloud-hosted by provider
SIT EF 120-2 Metric Percentage on renewable energy
SIT EF 130-1 Metric Percentage products & services having an extraordinarily high workload
SIT EF 130-2 Metric Percentage products & services on renewable energy
SIT EF 130-3 Metric Percentage eligible products & services hosted/delivered by third parties
SIT EF 140 Metric Percentage eligible energy sources controlled/influenced

 

Enterprise-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EE 110-1 Metric kWH consumption by location, time of day, facility, m2
SIT EE 110-2 Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EE 110-3 Metric Percentage m2 certified green
SIT EE 120-1 Metric kWH consumption by location, ratio of remote to office workers
SIT EE 120-2 Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EE 130-1 Metric kWH consumption by location, time of day, facility, m2
SIT EE 130-2 Metric Percentage renewable
SIT EF 130-3 Metric Percentage m2 certified green
SIT EE 140 Metric Percentage eligible energy sources controlled/influenced

 

Emissions (200)

Function-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EF 210-1.a Metric Metric tons CO2 by location, over time period, per end user (include SIT EF 211-1, 212-1, 213-1) GRI 305-1, 2
SIT EF 210-1.b Metric GHG intensity
SIT EF 210-2.a Metric Metric tons CO2 by location, over time period, per end user (include EF 211-2, 213-2) GRI 305-3
SIT EF 210-2.b Metric GHG intensity intensity
SIT EF 211-1 Metric Owned/on-premises (include servers & cooling) metric tons CO2 by location, time of day, per end user
SIT EF 211-2 Metric Third party-hosted & co-location data centers metric tons CO2 by provider, per end user
SIT EF 212-1 Metric Metric tons CO2 by location, over time period, per end user
SIT EF 212-2.a Metric Average emissions reduction achieved by lifecycle extension by type
SIT EF 212-3 Metric Percentage end-user devices BYOD
SIT EF 213-1 Metric Owned/on-premises metric tons CO2 by portfolio, location
SIT EF 213-2 Metric Third party-sourced or public cloud-hosted metric tons CO2 by provider
SIT EF 220 Metric Lifecycle emissions IT products & services (include electricity, heating, cooling) GRI 305-1, 2, 3; SASB TC-IM-130a.1, TC-SI-130a.1

 

Enterprise-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EE 210-1 Metric Metric tons CO2 from meeting travel by # miles, # trips, per employee
SIT EE 210-2 Metric Metric tons CO2 saved/avoided per FTE, over time period enabled by virtual meeting tools and capabilities
SIT EE 210-3 Metric Percentage major corporate meetings virtual
SIT EE 220-1 Metric Metric tons CO2 by location, over time period
SIT EE 220-2 Metric GHG intensity
SIT EE 220-3 Metric Percentage smart office space
SIT EE 230-1 Metric Percentage efficient travel
SIT EE 240-1 Metric Metric tons CO2, by location, mode, over time period
SIT EE 240-2 Metric Percentage fleet electric & hybrid
SIT EE 250-1 Metric Metric tons CO2 per unit procured, by item type, provider, location, over time period
SIT EE 260-1 Metric Metric tons CO2 by supply channel, item categories, stage (e.g., transport, storage)
SIT EE 270-1 Metric Percentage processes automated
SIT EE 270-2 Metric Metric tons CO2 by location, over time period

 

Waste (300)

Function-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EF 310-1 Metric Percentage IT devices reused/refurbished or repurposed by type
SIT EF 310-2 Metric Percentage IT devices recycled/remanufactured
SIT EF 310-3 Metric Percentage equipment not disposed sustainably (i.e., landfilled)
SIT EF 310-4 Metric Percentage device/hardware units donated responsibly by type, over time period
SIT EF 310-5 Metric Refresh cycle of IT devices by type

 

Enterprise-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EE 310-1.a Metric Megaliters withdrawn by location, water source, over time period
SIT EE 310-1.b Metric Percentage water withdrawn from high-stress regions
SIT EE 310-1.c Metric Baseline megaliters per facility m2 over time period (e.g., a data center)
SIT EE 310-1.d Metric Megaliters discharged by location, water destination, level of treatment, over time period
SIT EE 310-1.e Metric Water intensity: megaliters per facility m2 over time period (e.g., a data center)
SIT EE 310-2.a Metric Megaliters withdrawn by location, water source, over time period
SIT EE 310-2.b Metric Percentage water withdrawn from high-stress regions
SIT EE 310-2.c Metric Baseline megaliters per facility m2 over time period (e.g., a data center)
SIT EE 310-2.d Metric Megaliters discharged by location, water destination, level of treatment, over time period
SIT EE 310-2.e Metric Water intensity: megaliters per facility m2 over time period (e.g., a data center)
SIT EE 320-1 Metric Percentage enterprise electronic processes
SIT EE 330-1 Metric Percentage materials sourced sustainably GRI 301-2, 3
SIT EE 330-2 Metric Metric tons materials not recycled (landfilled)
SIT EE 330-3 Metric Megaliters withdrawn by location, over time period GRI 303-3; SASB TC-IM-130a.2, TC-SI-130a
SIT EE 330-4 Metric Percentage water withdrawn from high-stress regions
SIT EE 330-5 Metric Megaliters discharged by location, water destination, level of treatment, over time period GRI 303-4; SASB TC-IM-130a.2, TC-SI-130a
SIT EE 330-6 Metric Percentage electronic waste disposal complying with EU WEEE Directive

 

Sourcing (400)

Function-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EF 410-1 Metric Percentage vendors meeting requirements; also percentage requirements met by each primary vendor
SIT EF 410-2 Metric Percentage software licenses or instances sourced sustainably
SIT EF 410-3 Metric Percentage total spend to sustainable sources
SIT EF 420-1 Metric Percentage installed base sourced sustainably
SIT EF 420-2 Metric Percentage new purchases sourced sustainably over time period
SIT EF 420-3 Metric Percentage total spend to sustainable sources
SIT EF 430 Topic Eligible technology devices/hardware meeting certification standards GRI 308-1, 2; SASB TC-HW-410a.3
SIT EF 440-1 Metric Percentage IT purchases utilizing channels/processes optimized for sustainability over time period
SIT EF 440-2 Metric Percentage IT procurement spend utilizing channels/processes optimized for sustainability over time period
SIT EF 450-1 Metric Percentage vendors meeting requirements; also percentage requirements met by each primary vendor
SIT EF 450-2 Metric Percentage outsourcing sourced sustainably
SIT EF 460-1 Metric Percentage vendors meeting requirements; also percentage requirements met by each primary vendor
SIT EF 460-2 Metric Percentage third party-hosted workloads sourced sustainably by type, total spend
SIT EF 470-1 Metric Percentage vendors meeting requirements; also percentage requirements met by each primary vendor
SIT EF 470-2 Metric Percentage services sourced sustainably by type, total spend
SIT EF 480-1 Metric Percentage vendors meeting requirements; also percentage requirements met by each primary vendor
SIT EF 480-2 Metric Percentage mobile services sourced sustainably by type, total spend

 

Enterprise-focused

SIT Code Type Description Relevant third-party codes
SIT EE 410-1 Metric Percentage vendors meeting requirements; also percentage requirements met by each primary vendor
SIT EE 410-2 Metric Percentage materials moved sustainably by volume/weight, total spend, over time period
SIT EE 420-1 Metric Percentage purchases utilizing sustainable channels/process
SIT EE 430-1 Metric Percentage manufacturing supplies/raw materials sourced from sustainability-certified suppliers

 

If you have questions or feedback about the above standards, you can reach us at Standards@SustainableIT.org.

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