The Definitive Playbook for Sustainable IT, SECOND EDITION

Sustainable IT Playbook for Technology Leaders

A hands-on guide to designing and scaling sustainable IT strategies for the digital age

At a time when digital technology intersects with non-negotiable climate responsibility, this updated edition presents modern strategies and tools technology leaders need to build and scale sustainable IT practices for long-term impact.

  • Execute an actionable sustainable IT strategy using updated global frameworks and metrics.
  • Build your credibility as a sustainable IT advocate and stand out among senior IT leaders.
  • Access new case studies and real-world best practices to drive internal adoption and stakeholder buy-in.
  • Leverage tools from SustainableIT.org resource center.
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About the Sustainable IT Playbook

While the climate crisis poses a threat to planetary health, digital transformation continues to reshape our societies. The challenge for technology leaders is no longer why sustainability matters, but how to take decisive, responsible action. This book gives you the clarity, confidence, and tools to drive meaningful change.

Updated with the latest trends, case studies, and insights, including responsible and sustainable AI lifecycle governance, it walks you through every stage of developing and implementing a sustainable IT strategy.

The book is structured in three parts. Part I explores the “why,” grounding you in the reality of the urgent climate crisis we face today, how we arrived here, the planetary boundaries we must restore, and the broader impact of IT on society. Part II covers the “what,” outlining the practical actions you can take to drive meaningful returns on sustainable investments and build a greener future. Part III focuses on the “how,” establishing baselines, setting direction, and applying real-world case studies to help you translate intent to impactful global outcomes.

Whether you’re building a sustainability strategy from the ground up or enhancing existing initiatives, this book prepares you to lead the way with confidence and deliver outcomes that matter.

what you will learn
  • Recognize the environmental impact of IT systems and digital infrastructure
  • Integrate sustainability into IT governance, procurement, and software delivery
  • Apply the latest methods to optimize workloads, reduce emissions, and measure impact
  • Learn from peers through case studies and analysis of best practices
  • Establish a science-based carbon emissions baseline for IT operations
  • Build sustainability KPIs and dashboards that align with business reporting
  • Inspire IT teams, partners, and C-level stakeholders to embrace sustainability
  • Navigate current regulations, certifications, and industry frameworks

Book Resources and Tools

The playbook is backed by a full library of downloadable tools developed by SustainableIT.org and contributing practitioners. These resources are available as gated downloads for readers of the book and members of the SustainableIT.org community. They are designed to help you move quickly from ideas on the page to action in your organization.

Access the Downloadable Resources
Model
Sustainable IT Reference Model
The Sustainable IT Reference Model© presents the focal points for IT-led sustainability. Use it to orient IT staff on the breadth and scope of IT’s sustainability journey.
Model
Sustainable IT Maturity Model ©
This model describes five levels of maturity for 11 different capabilities for successful sustainability leadership.
Index
Index of Tools and Resources – Sustainable IT Playbook
This index collects the tools and resources cited throughout the Sustainable IT Playbook. Chapters are indicated in which the resources are mentioned.
Reference/Presentation
Sustainable IT Strategy Reference Materials
This PowerPoint contains editable graphics from The Sustainable IT Playbook used in strategy development, including a framework, materiality assessment, and roadmaps.
Excel Workbook
Sustainable IT Playbook Emissions Calculator
This set of Excel calculators will help to get a rough estimation of IT’s emissions footprint. The book's Chapter 13 provides an explanation and walk-through.
Powerpoint Template
IT Sustainability Business Case Template
This is a template for developing IT sustainability business cases. It consists of generic template pages, with examples populated with hypothetical information for four different sustainable IT initiatives.
Standard
SustainableIT Standard Metrics for ESG Sustainability
This taxonomy of more than 200 IT-tailored ESG standards provides IT organizations in any industry with consistent set of topics and metrics for measuring, tracking and reporting technology’s ESG impact.

IT Toolkit for Responsible and Sustainable AI

Summary Guide
Overview of the IT Toolkit for Responsible and Sustainable AI

This overview of the IT Toolkit for Responsible and Sustainable AI offers executives a strategic framework and practical guidance to mitigate AI risks and unlock lasting business value and innovation at scale, as developed by a SustainableIT.org working group.

Download the Overview
GUIDE
The AI Sustainability Runbook - A Practical Guide

This Runbook provides actionable, lifecycle-based guidance for IT and business leaders to operationalize environmental sustainability across AI systems, from goal setting and architecture to monitoring and continuous improvement.

Access in the Resource Center
Runbook
Responsible AI Data Governance Principles and Runbook: A Practical Guide

This Runbook introduces five foundational principles, Validity & Reliability, Transparency & Explainability, Fit for Purpose & Scalability, Environmental Sustainability, and Accountability, to guide IT and business leaders in embedding ESG-aligned stewardship into AI data practices.

Access in the Resource Center
Glossary
AI General Glossary

The document is a glossary of terms, adapted from "The Top 50+ AI/GenAI Terms Demystified," which defines key concepts in artificial intelligence, including Agentic AI, Generative AI, Responsible AI, and Sustainable AI, all relevant to the IT Toolkit for Responsible and Sustainable AI.

Access in the Resource Center
Guide
Persona-based Literacy Guide for Sustainable AI

This guide outlines tailored learning paths to help enterprise generalists, experts, and executives build the knowledge needed to develop, govern, and apply AI sustainably, covering topics like environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts and the Three-R Leadership Framework.

Access in the Resource Center
Framework
Responsible AI Leadership Framework and Principles

This report introduces the Three-R lifecycle governance model, Reflect, Reframe, and Reimagine, supported by nine foundational principles that guide IT and business leaders in establishing governance and embedding ethical and sustainable practices across the AI system lifecycle.

Access in the Resource Center
Model
Responsible AI Governance Lifecycle

This model series depicts the Responsible AI Governance Lifecycle through four views, integrating governance, ESG sustainability checkpoints, and an IT Sustainability Impact Assessment across the AI development lifecycle, including a GenAI governance strategy based on the "Six Rs."

Access in the Resource Center
Awards
Best Practices and Strategic Takeaways from the Responsible AI Impact Awards

This report summarizes the best practices observed from the 2025 Responsible AI Impact Award winners, demonstrating that responsible AI governance, including structured controls, literacy training, and sustainability by design, drives both business value and innovation at scale.

Access in the Resource Center
Model
Generative AI Technology Ecosystem Model

This model describes the elements and stages of the enterprise Generative AI technology ecosystem, including the value chain, lifecycle, and inputs/outputs, to help users understand and assess sustainability impacts across the entire AI pipeline from manufacturing to end-user devices.

Access in the Resource Center
Index
Responsible AI Governance Frameworks, Principles & Standards

This spreadsheet collects published frameworks, principles, standards, and other guidelines for responsible governance. of artificial intelligence models, applications, and systems.

Access in the Resource Center
Who This Book Is For

This playbook is written for executive IT leaders and practitioners who want to turn sustainability from a side project into a core competency of technology leadership.

  • CIOs, CTOs, CDOs, and other senior technology executives responsible for strategy and transformation
  • Chief Sustainability Officers and ESG leaders collaborating closely with IT
  • Chief Architects, Heads of Infrastructure, and IT Operations leaders
  • IT sustainability program owners and practitioners driving change at any level
  • Technology leaders in finance, manufacturing, healthcare, high tech, transportation, utilities, hospitality, and more

About the Authors

Niklas Sundberg

Niklas Sundberg is Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Kuehne+Nagel, where he leads the company’s global digital ecosystem, including AI transformation, cloud modernization, data and connectivity platforms, and Responsible AI governance.

Niklas oversees a global team of technology professionals who are building sustainable, secure, and future-ready digital capabilities across one of the world’s largest logistics networks. He previously held leadership roles including Senior Vice President and CIO at ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, Head of Global Enterprise Architecture at ASSA ABLOY Group, Managing Partner at Gartner, and Executive Vice President at Connecta. Motivated by the lack of practical guidance in the field, he created the Sustainable IT Playbook for Technology Leaders to provide one of the first structured frameworks for sustainable IT practitioners and serves on the Board of Directors at SustainableIT.org.

Rick Pastore
‍
Richard (Rick) Pastore is Research Principal at SustainableIT.org. He develops research-based insights, tools, webinars, and resources for technology executives who are leading environmental, social, and governance initiatives.

Rick leads programs such as the IT Toolkit for Responsible and Sustainable AI, developed with input from a broad community of technology leaders across many industries. A former editor of CIO magazine and contributing editor to CIO.com, he helped establish and grow the CIO Executive Council, a global peer advisory and leadership development program. Before joining SustainableIT.org in 2022, he served as senior director and IT research advisor at The Hackett Group. His career has focused on elevating the IT profession, and he is inspired by leaders who are applying their expertise to sustainability’s toughest challenges.

Go Further with SustainableIT.org

The playbook is only the beginning. SustainableIT.org is a global, executive-led nonprofit that brings together technology and sustainability leaders to share best practices, co-create tools, and accelerate progress.

  • Become a member or partner to join working groups, co-create new tools, and shape the future of sustainable IT.
  • Take the capability maturity assessment to benchmark your current state and identify priority actions.
  • Contact us to explore collaboration, speaking opportunities, or custom programs for your organization.
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