Procurement leaders are increasingly looking beyond energy consumption to address the environmental impact embedded throughout the lifecycle of ICT equipment.

As organisations expand their digital infrastructure, procurement decisions are increasingly being recognised as a critical factor in reducing the environmental impact of information and communications technology (ICT). While growing attention has focused on the electricity demands of data centres, experts argue that a significant proportion of ICT's environmental footprint is created long before devices are switched on, through the extraction of raw materials, manufacturing and global supply chains. According to Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO), data centres accounted for 23% of the country's metered electricity consumption in 2024, highlighting the growing importance of sustainable digital infrastructure. The insights were shared by experts from TU Delft Learning for Life and Logius, the Dutch government's digital services agency.

The strategic challenge for procurement professionals lies in balancing digital transformation with whole-life sustainability. Independent lifecycle assessments consistently indicate that between 70% and 90% of a laptop's or smartphone's lifetime carbon footprint is generated during manufacturing rather than during operational use. This has prompted organisations to shift procurement strategies towards extending asset life, specifying repairability, increasing the use of refurbished equipment and incorporating embodied carbon into purchasing decisions. International guidance, including ISO 20400: Sustainable Procurement, encourages organisations to evaluate environmental, social and economic impacts across the entire procurement lifecycle rather than focusing solely on upfront purchase costs.

The transition is also reshaping supplier relationships. Increasingly, procurement teams are embedding repair commitments, maintenance requirements and circular economy principles into contracts to maximise product longevity and reduce electronic waste. Sustainable procurement extends beyond hardware to include software development, where efficient coding, targeted system testing and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence can reduce resource consumption throughout an asset's operational life. These measures support broader organisational objectives around environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance while helping to manage long-term operating costs.

For procurement professionals, the implications extend well beyond environmental reporting. Sustainable ICT procurement is evolving into a strategic discipline that combines lifecycle costing, supplier collaboration and contract management to improve resilience while reducing total cost of ownership. As governments and organisations continue investing in digital infrastructure, procurement teams will play an increasingly influential role in ensuring technology investments deliver both operational performance and measurable sustainability outcomes.

Source: TU Delft Learning for Life / Central Statistics Office (CSO) / Logius / ISO