Insight into the world of sustainable IT and procurement

Thomas Heine, media expert and founder of the Sustainable IT.org project, talks about the link between digitalization and sustainability at the Greentech.LIVE conference in Berlin. Greentech expert Thomas Heine was made aware of the importance of environmental issues by the Club of Rome back in the 1970s. He worked in the IT sector for many years and dealt with topics such as internet literacy before turning his attention to sustainability in 2009.

Intersection of IT and Environmental Responsibility

At the Greentech.LIVE conference in Berlin, Heine explained that many companies in the IT sector know little about the sustainability of the products they buy.

“The lifespan of devices also plays an important role, as do software development and energy consumption. Sustainability should be considered over the entire life cycle of IT products – from use to disposal,” says Heine.

Modernizing IT Infrastructures: A Key to Reducing Costs and CO2 Emissions

Another major topic addressed by the greentech and sustainability expert is the modernization of IT infrastructures. Here, Heine sees the potential to both save money and reduce CO2 emissions. He cites an example from an insurance company that has saved 10 million euros per year through IT modernization. The question of whether local server structures are more sustainable than cloud solutions is often asked here.

According to Heine, this is a complex issue that requires detailed analysis. Data centers that rely on green electricity represent progress, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Thomas Heine emphasizes that sustainability and digitalization must go hand in hand. Well-founded arguments and information are needed to make the necessary decisions for a sustainable digital future. Heine is committed to this with his project and as an ambassador for Sustainable IT.