On September 20, 2024, the Green Computing Foundation (GCF) hosted a highly engaging CXO roundtable on “Strategic Integration: Maximizing ROI & Financial Impact through Sustainable IT Practices.” Held at the prestigious ITC Gardenia in Bangalore, the event brought together a diverse group of business leaders to explore how sustainable IT can be embedded into core business strategies.
Key Objectives of the Roundtable
The primary aim of the event was to gain insights into how CXOs are currently integrating sustainable IT into their business models and to assess the level of awareness around its importance. The discussion also delved into collaboration between CIOs and Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) to align IT operations with sustainability goals.
Participants and Sponsorship
The roundtable featured leaders from multiple sectors, including CIOs, CTOs, CSOs, CISOs, and CEOs representing industries such as IT consulting, semiconductors, e-commerce, oil & gas, sustainable food, cybersecurity, and biomass energy generation.
The session was sponsored by Bharat RS and Xellentro, with both organizations contributing valuable insights:
- Bharat RS showcased how biomass energy provides a stable alternative to fossil fuels, addressing the challenges of intermittent solar and wind energy.
- Xellentro introduced its Sustainable IT Practitioner Program and Sustainable IT Assessment & Rating services, designed to help organizations transition to sustainable IT practices.
Event Highlights
The session, moderated by Dr. Niladri Choudhuri, President of the Green Computing Foundation, kicked off with thought-provoking questions about participants’ understanding of sustainable IT. Several key topics were explored throughout the discussions:
Awareness and Strategy Gaps
- Sustainability Strategy vs. Sustainable IT Strategy: Many participants acknowledged having a sustainability strategy but noted a lack of dedicated sustainable IT strategies. Others admitted they were still in the early stages of building sustainability frameworks.
- Carbon Footprint Awareness: Participants estimated that IT-related carbon emissions account for 40% to 50% of their organization’s carbon footprint, with a sectoral survey reporting similar numbers for the BFSI industry. The discussions highlighted that in addition to usage emissions, the embodied carbon from raw materials used in devices also requires attention.
Optimizing Resources: Doing More with Less
Participants debated the core objective of sustainable IT: maximizing resource efficiency. The discussion revolved around:
- Sustainable Cybersecurity: Exploring how redundancy in resilience contributes to carbon emissions. A noteworthy example was the use of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies combined with virtual desktops (VDI) by a European bank to reduce carbon footprints without compromising security compliance.
- System Rearchitecting: The need for loosely coupled architectures was emphasized to reduce technical debt. This would result in fewer testing efforts and smoother DevSecOps, SRE, and Value Stream Management practices, further lowering emissions.
The Role of ESG and Inclusivity
A significant aspect discussed was how sustainable IT aligns with the “S” of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance). Companies shared examples of incorporating inclusivity into their UX designs, ensuring accessibility for individuals with color blindness, autism, and other disabilities. The participants emphasized that sustainable IT is not only about environmental benefits but also about customer-centric practices that reduce the carbon footprint of services offered.
Demand Shaping and Materiality Assessments
Several organizations discussed practices like demand shifting and demand shaping to manage energy usage efficiently. One participant cited how a Materiality Assessment by GCF led to an 11% cost reduction by identifying specific areas of improvement.
Challenges for GCCs and Scope 3 Disclosures
The discussion also addressed the challenges faced by Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India, especially with parent companies requiring Scope 3 disclosures. While GCCs in India sometimes face resistance, participants agreed that starting locally with sustainable practices and expanding globally upon seeing benefits would be an effective approach.
Key Proposals by the Green Computing Foundation
At the conclusion of the roundtable, GCF extended an invitation to the participating organizations to join its sustainable IT initiatives through the following programs:
- Sustainable IT Center of Excellence
GCF, in partnership with Birchlogic, is setting up a Center of Excellence focused on sustainable IT. This center will serve as a platform for organizations to experiment, innovate, and develop best practices. Interested companies were encouraged to become corporate members to initiate their sustainable IT journeys. - Biomass Energy Generation Project
GCF, in collaboration with Bharat RS and other ecosystem partners, is working on a biomass energy project to serve data centers and IT firms. This project will also involve the plantation of Napier grass, bamboo, and Jatropha, creating livelihoods for farmers. Participating companies were invited to support this project under their CSR initiatives.
Conclusion
The roundtable concluded with a networking session over high tea, providing participants with an opportunity to connect and exchange ideas further.
This event not only highlighted the growing importance of sustainable IT but also emphasized the need for collaborative efforts between business and technology leaders. With GCF leading the way through innovative projects and partnerships, organizations were encouraged to join hands and make sustainable IT a reality, proving that green practices are not just good for the environment but also essential for long-term business success.
This CXO roundtable served as a catalyst for thought leadership on sustainable IT practices, paving the way for a greener future where businesses thrive by doing more with less.
Author: Dr. Surabhi Prakash