The impact of digital technology: a sector that is not so immaterial

Digital technology refers, on one hand, to the physical aspect, the IT equipment and connected devices that have been manufactured and that we own, and, on the other hand, to how we use them, such as watching videos, sending emails and files, or organizing online meetings.

The impact of digital technology in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is therefore relatively small. However, with the rapid development of energy-intensive AI, the overuse of video, and the increasing reliance on digitalization, ADEME estimates that the impact of digital technology could triple by 2050.

However, this is not the only challenge in this sector. Indeed, digital technology consumes a lot of energy during its use phase, but also significant amounts of water and raw materials during the manufacturing of devices (screens, PCs, phones, etc.).

Finally, it is important to note that overall, both at the university and in France, about 80% of the impact of digital technology comes from the manufacturing phase, 19% from usage, and only 1% from end-of-life processes (reuse, recycling, sorting, etc.). Therefore, when discussing responsible digital practices, it is essential to extend the lifespan of devices and align purchases with actual needs to avoid an overabundance of electronic equipment.

Digital technology at Université de Lorraine

60 000
students

4 000
teaching and research staff

3 000
administrative staff

+ 50 000
connected devices

+ 10 000
landlines

+ 70
physical servers

+ 130 000
ENT visits per day

+ 100 00
computer accounts

+ 13 000
videos

+ 400
websites

Source: 2021 equipment carbon footprint audit (excluding data center)

Université de Lorraine is committed to responsible digital use

Given these figures, the university has decided to take action and is committed to optimising its digital footprint. In February 2024, it signed the responsible digital charter. The digital department has already undertaken a number of other initiatives. Among the most significant are the increase in the equipment warranty to a minimum of 5 years, which helps to extend the lifespan of equipment, the use of cold printers that consume 98% less energy than hot printers, and staff awareness campaigns such as the Numeriscore, which enables everyone to become more aware of their impact.

To sum up, the university’s policy for responsible digital use is based on 5 commitments:

• Environment: commit to optimising digital tools to limit their impact and consumption.
• Accessibility: commit to developing digital services that are accessible to everyone, inclusive, and sustainable.
• Ethics: commit to ethical and responsible digital practices.
• Resilience: commit to responsible digital practices, essential for ensuring organizational resilience.
• Values: commit to promoting the emergence of new behaviors and values.