Sustainability challenges in the technology industry: towards longer-life devices and green software

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 10. 25. 10:28

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The technology industry is increasingly facing sustainability challenges. The production of new devices involves a significant environmental burden, as around 80% of carbon dioxide emissions are generated during production. The sustainability of software is also receiving more and more attention, as the lack of device updates often forces users to change devices, which entails not only financial but also environmental burdens, reports the Pénzcentrum.

Environmental and financial burdens of rapid replacement of devices

The example of actor and presenter Waseem Mirza illustrates the problem well. His Samsung phone, which he bought in 2016, worked perfectly, but due to the lack of security updates, he was forced to replace it. Outdated software and manufacturers’ canceled updates force users to buy new devices, increasing the environmental burden caused by manufacturing. According to Peter Campbell, director of green software at Kainos, change is slow and it is difficult for the industry to maintain a constant priority for sustainability.

New solutions to extend the life of devices

The software industry is also paying increasing attention to sustainability. A new operating system, /e/OS, for example, is a free version of Android that offers devices that are no longer receiving updates the option of a longer lifespan. According to Gaël Duval, founder of /e/OS, the goal is to continue using devices that are no longer supported by manufacturers. The big manufacturers are also responding to sustainability challenges: Samsung supports this year’s Galaxy S24 phones for seven years, Google also supports Pixel devices for seven years, while Apple promises at least five years of support for the iPhone 16.

The role of green software in sustainability

The environmental impact of software can be measured not only in the lifetime of devices, but also in the energy and hardware efficiency of applications. The Green Software Foundation created the Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) system to help measure the carbon footprint of software. Asim Hussain, the organization’s executive director, said: “Green software is energy and hardware efficient, meaning it uses as few physical resources as possible, resulting in fewer emissions.” This not only reduces costs for users, but also contributes to environmental protection by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

The future of sustainability in the technology industry

The information technology and communications sector is currently responsible for 1.4% of greenhouse gas emissions, but is estimated to increase to 14% by 2040. Extending the lifespan of devices and developing energy-efficient software is a key step towards a more sustainable technology industry. The new guidelines, which promote greener software and longer-lasting devices, provide an opportunity for the tech industry to reduce its impact on the planet and be sustainable in the long term.