The tech sector is inarguably one of the most important pillars of industry in today’s world. Advancing technologies and the constant development of new devices and tools makes for a stronger world, and a stronger future too. It is only right that the UK’s tech sector is so high-performing on the global stage, given the wealth of talent and knowledge here. But that talent and knowledge can come at a price.
Sustainability and the Tech Industry
Sustainability is a particularly important concern within the tech industry, if only for the considerable impact of rare earth mining – where materials like cobalt are vital for the production of consumer tech devices, many of which end up in landfill within months of purchase.
Of course, there are wider sustainability concerns both within and without tech, which is part of the reason that sustainability is something to be considered with priority. The climate crisis continues to worsen, and climate talks are doing little to advance real and actionable change on any front. Consumers are growing restless, and businesses need to listen if only to protect their reputation.
Key Sustainable Issues in Tech
Concerning the tech sector in particular, there are more areas of concern than the dangerous mining of rare earths, or the mounting piles of e-waste that are not being recycled or re-used effectively by any means. There is also the significant energy consumption of large-scale industrial manufacturing facilities, and indeed of the inefficient products that many budget brands produce. Even in soft sectors like fintech, blockchain technology has a messy history – and a great deal of carbon emissions to account for.
Ethics and sustainability go hand in hand, but tech businesses cannot lean into ethical sustainability without also addressing some broader ethical considerations – relating both to the internal treatment of employees, and the development and release of new devices or services. These can tie into sustainability too, particularly where hostile working policies force workers into offices, and as a result, burn fossil fuels in commuting.
Changes You Can Implement
It is all well and good to talk about the broader picture when it comes to sustainability, tech, and business accountability, but there is also a fundamental recognition that many of these big-picture changes simply will not happen – at least, not without government intervention or stricter international frameworks. What, then, can a tech business do within itself to improve its sustainability ethically?
Tech businesses with the infrastructure to create green solutions should do so where possible – and should consult the appropriate parties as to the seeking of capital or protection of IP. Where closing cobalt mines might not be possible, let alone practical, investing money into green energy and healthcare NGOs can help offset some of that reliance on unethical labour. Within the business, allowing employees flexible working conditions can dramatically reduce employee-created carbon emissions, while essential in-office workers could be given electric vehicles as company cars.