Using digital and technology to reduce carbon footprints
1 in 4 charities are using digital to reduce their carbon footprint
- 61% of charities are mindful of their use of digital tools and technology and the role this plays in their carbon footprint.
- Whilst only 25% are actively using digital tools and technology to reduce their carbon footprint as an organisation, it is positive that a further 17% plan to and 19% are informally working on this issue.
- A quarter (26%) are not taking steps to use digital to reduce their tech carbon footprint.
The top five actions charities are taking, which we would continue to encourage, are:
- Considering how they use digital tools (e.g. remote working to reduce travel) (49%)
- Choosing suppliers based on environmental principles (11%)
- Selecting green web hosting (10%)
- Factoring sustainability into tech and software choices (10%)
- Designing websites to minimise energy use (9%)
Elsewhere in the survey, we can also see that when charities are choosing digital suppliers, 54% see their environmental principles and approach as an important factor in their decision. However, other factors, such as cost (for 93%), experience with similar organisations (85%) and their values and ethics (75%), are seen as an important factor for more charities.
Organisations tackling climate change
This year, we asked organisations if they described themselves as ‘tackling climate change’ and had 60 responses (9%). Their characteristics (size, stage of digital) mirror the main sample.
We can see this group is more committed to looking at the impact of their digital tools and technology on their carbon footprint.
- 53% are actively using digital tools and technology to reduce their carbon footprint as an organisation, whilst a further 17% are working towards this and 15% are informally doing this. Overall, this is 85%.
- This committed group notes two key barriers to moving forwards: the cost or time to redesign their website/online services to reduce energy consumption (36%) and a lack of transparent information from platforms/tools (26%).
Barriers to reducing tech carbon footprints
More than half of charities (52%) say they have more pressing priorities than tech carbon footprint reduction
The top five areas holding charities back from doing more to tackle climate change through tech are:
- More pressing priorities (52%)
- Limited knowledge and expertise (39%)
- Cost/time to redesign their website/digital services with energy consumption reduction in mind (20%)
- 19% of charities have not thought about this issue
- The cost of tools/suppliers with environmental credentials (19%)
The results are similar for both small and large charities. As with other areas of digital change, charities are being held back by a lack of headspace, skills and resources.
Future plans
Only a third (36%) of charities say they are not planning to reduce their carbon footprint in future
Charities are beginning to consider tech as part of their carbon footprint reduction. It is encouraging to see that:
- 24% are learning from other charities, suppliers or organisations.
- 18% are seeking guidance from experts.
- 16% are measuring their footprint and tracking progress.