The environmental impact of digital design is often invisible, because it pervades so many sectors. It’s our responsibility as creators, developers, designers and businesses to address it, but that doesn’t mean an all or nothing approach, or boring websites.

We’ve compiled some considerations that teams can use right now to embed eco-conscious design into their practice, and begin to address the global climate crisis.

The digital sector’s environmental impact is insidious because to the average user - it is invisible. Emission breakdowns by sector often don’t include digital technologies, because our work spreads across infinite industries.

Digital technologies share in global greenhouse gas emissions has increased by half since 2013, to 3.7%. This could double between now and 2025 to reach 8%, matching the current share of car emissions. This doesn’t include the growing demand for raw materials such as rare metals for digital and future low-carbon technologies.⁴

Just like the first factories to produce plastic to replace paper, and then paper to replace plastic, we need to take responsibility for our footprint on the earth and its resources. Even if at first it’s not easy for everyone to see.

It’s no business secret that consumers increasingly care about how their purchases impact the environment. What’s new is its tangible impact on the economy. With ⅓ of consumers claiming to have stopped purchasing brands or products because they had ethical or environmental concerns. It’s no longer good enough to talk the talk, brands need to walk the walk.⁵

Sustainable businesses were once a niche corner of some markets, as many of us believed that the main culprit of climate change was solely deforestation and producers of fossil fuels. But that boat has sailed, and consumers are savvy to the impact of not just plastic straws, but technology too, with only 13% of global consumers believing that tech companies are doing enough to minimise their environmental impact.⁶