Coming into force in January 2022, the so-called REEN law aims to reduce the environmental footprint of digital technology. It marks a first step towards raising awareness among young people and training engineers in eco-design. Its merit is also to be the first law which makes the link, in its title, between digital technology and its impact on the environment. But if the dynamics of a virtuous digital are becoming clearer, both in companies and on an individual scale, the collective awareness that would lead to a questioning of our uses to achieve the famous "digital sobriety" defended by experts still seems far away. Before turning off our computers for the big summer break, let's take a look back at the main notions of the digital footprint and the real challenges of Green IT.

“It will soon no longer be possible to manufacture computers”

The environmental impact of digital technology is responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. For Frédéric Bordage, founder of the Green IT collective of independent engineers, the data remains insufficient. The carbon footprint is far from being the only source of impact. The specialist cites the results of a study by Ademe/Arcep published last January to address the need for a more comprehensive assessment. Because, contrary to popular belief, well before the addition of email attachments and " binge-watching ," the primary cause of the negative environmental impact of digital technology is directly linked to the manufacturing of smartphones, computers, screens, and other connected devices.

According to this recent study, there would be about fifteen major environmental crises related to the impact of digital. In the first line, the depletion of abiotic resources. " A computer is made using fifty different metals, to which minerals such as silicon must be added for the construction of microprocessors, oil for the hull, etc. These resources are in finite quantities on earth and it is estimated today that there are about thirty years left before accessible stocks are exhausted... It will soon no longer be possible to manufacture computers. Whether this satisfies us or not, the organization of our societies, health, communication, transport, depend directly on digital technology. The risk that threatens, if we do not anticipate the disappearance of these resources within one or two generations, is a brutal change in civilization », explains Frédéric Bordage.
The study also points to ionizing radiation (ie related to the consumption of electricity from nuclear power) and greenhouse gas emissions, cited in third place. Which calls for another figure, "the only one to remember", suggests the expert: " digital represents 40% of a European's sustainable greenhouse gas emissions budget ».

In France, an 18-year-old adult has already owned an average of five mobile phones

Growing in maturity and adopting a more reasoned approach to digital technology begins with ceasing to ignore the situation. " It's also time to understand that taking action doesn't require that much effort ," insists the expert, for whom the key is to stop the constant replacement of devices—mobile phones, computers, screens, and so on. In France, an 18-year-old has already owned an average of five mobile phones. Finally, according to Frédéric Bordage, there are an average of 15 connected devices per person in France, compared to four on average worldwide. Avoiding over-equipping oneself and favoring repair and reuse by prioritizing the purchase of refurbished equipment are fundamental habits to adopt. " Because what matters is the total lifespan of the equipment. We're far from the injunctions of punitive environmentalism! " he continues, before listing other actions to take. " Ensure that equipment that no longer works is directed to approved collection points in order to be decontaminated if not recycled, and finally, avoid misuse, i.e. no longer listening to music on YouTube on 4G, unnecessarily downloading gigabytes of images, but instead paying for a Spotify subscription ."

At the company level, maturity in the face of these new challenges manifests itself on two levels. “ First, there are companies that are taking steps to reduce the environmental, economic, and social impacts related to their IT. And then there are those that have understood that digital sobriety can be a factor in competitiveness. This second profile is typically that of the startup that knows how to combine low-tech and high-tech, by creating, for example, a super weather computer for farmers in African countries, and communicating the forecasts to them using chalk and blackboards since 30% of these farmers are illiterate and do not have mobile phones. The world of tomorrow will have to be like this: hybrid .”

The challenge for brands: not triggering device obsolescence

What are the challenges for each sector? In the fashion industry , reducing a brand's digital footprint primarily involves minimizing the impact of its online store. " This can be easily achieved through small improvements... such as limiting the number of items displayed, compressing images... The main challenge is to avoid triggering the obsolescence of the user's device when they want to shop online. This is entirely feasible simply by applying the basic principles of eco-design for the web ," advises the Green IT expert.

In the gaming sector , the key issue is screen quality. " If the video game developer mandates very high image definition, players whose screens aren't compatible will inevitably have to upgrade their devices. The Wii's approach is quite inspiring in this regard—this family console achieved phenomenal success despite its poor screen quality... This logic also applies to live performances and museums, which are increasingly offering virtual exhibition tours ." What about VOD and TV series production? " The environmental impact of an hour of streaming is 90% linked to the manufacturing of the television itself. We come back to the same logic once again. The primary challenge is to avoid triggering the obsolescence of the screen ," he concludes. And ultimately, to ensure that viewers receive a quality experience that doesn't require highly advanced technology.