Experiences with impact

The guide to eco-conscious digital design.

Sustainable digital design, without sacrificing impact.

Discover 10 considerations that teams can use to embed eco-conscious design into practice.

80 %

of all product-related environmental impacts are determined during the design phase.1

87 %

of customers would buy a product with a social and environmental benefit.2

75 %

of Gen Z will do research to see if a company is being honest when it takes a stand on issues like climate change.3

Why is this important?

The digital revolution has been faster and more experimental than the industrial age, as we’ve demanded and built more beautiful features and interactions than could be used in a lifetime. Now it’s time to balance the books, and make space for more.

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.

Why should digital professionals care?

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 not all doom and gloom, and it’s not all or nothing.

Customers aren’t as rigid as some may believe. In fact, 32% of consumers would be prepared to pay more for goods and services from brands that commit to reducing their environmental footprint. Which means there’s space for brands that do what they can and make an effort to pivot to more sustainable practices. 5

Websites don’t need to be boring or empty to make a difference, read on to discover 10 ways to lower your website’s carbon footprint.

Sustainable design is great business.

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

Go ahead and get stuck in...

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