THE AUTHORS:
Sustainable technology is becoming increasingly important and it is not just a passing trend – it is a critical aspect gaining recognition across various industries.
Gartner has recognised environmentally sustainable technology as one of the top technology trends for 2024, underscoring its growing significance. IT leaders globally cannot overlook the green movement, as it now presents valuable opportunities in essential business areas.
This article explores the essence of sustainable technology, its fundamental role in shaping a future that prioritises environmental, social and governance (ESG) values and the ways Computools integrates sustainable technology solutions into its business processes.
Understanding Sustainable Technology and Its Role
What is sustainable technology?
At its core, sustainable technology serves as a framework for crafting digital solutions that go beyond mere operational efficiency, extending its positive impacts to the realms of environment, society and governance both internally and in interactions with customers.
A sustainable approach revolves around the strategic utilisation of digital tools and practices, not only to enhance business efficiency but also to actively contribute to the well-being of our planet and society at large.
Why are sustainable technologies important?
The impact of sustainability in the IT industry is extensive. Besides cutting costs or energy conservation, it also involves promoting well-being and establishing responsible business practices with better transparency.
Sustainability is also opening doors to innovative business models and technology products that align with changing customer needs.
Recent insights from Gartner highlighted six transformative dynamics that will shape the business landscape in the current decade, with sustainability emerging as a key element. Environmental concerns are now a top priority for CEOs, ranking ninth – a notable rise from the twentieth spot just seven years ago.
This significant rise in the importance of ecological issues marks a turning point: it is not just about meeting corporate responsibility anymore – businesses see sustainability as a strategic chance to improve efficiency and increase revenue.
According to Precedence Research, the global green technology and sustainability market is projected to expand, reaching a peak of nearly US$89.18 billion in 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 20.6% between 2023 and 2032.
Leaders who have already implemented strong sustainability strategies in their organisations view them as key for shielding their businesses against unforeseen changes and managing escalating costs.
Gartner’s survey indicates that 86% of CEOs consider sustainability not as an expense but as a strategic investment, as a sustainable approach increases the resilience of their organisations.
Moreover, 83% of business leaders have noticed that their commitment to sustainability directly contributes to the long-term value of their companies. This underscores the role of sustainability in driving continuous and substantial growth.
Computools
Software Solutions
Computools is an IT Consulting and Custom Software Development Company that designs solutions to help companies meet the needs of tomorrow. Our clients represent a wide range of industries, including retail, finance, healthcare, consumer service, logistics and more.
Understanding ESG and Its Importance
The ESG initialism stands for environmental, social and governance, forming a comprehensive framework that focuses on revealing information about a company’s environmental impact, social practices and governance structures.
ESG’s main goal is to increase transparency for stakeholders, reduce risks and uncover new opportunities for businesses worldwide. ESG in business extends beyond financial analysis, examining aspects of a business critical for a complete understanding of its financial significance.
Let us explore three components of ESG in detail.
• Environmental
In the ESG framework, the environmental aspect focuses on a company’s effect on the planet. This includes sustainability in areas like waste management, pollution control, resource conservation, greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and climate change.
Climate issues are often seen as the most pressing in terms of the ESG framework. Companies are responsible for more than just complying with environmental laws.
They need to adopt green practices that support global environmental goals and reduce risks linked to climate change.
Gartner’s survey indicates that nearly 70% of CEOs are planning to invest in new sustainable technology products and improve the existing ones.
• Social
The social component of ESG examines how a company’s activities impact its employees and the wider community. This covers areas such as diversity, workplace conditions and fair pay. While the social aspect might be harder to quantify than the environmental impact, it is equally important.
Companies focusing on social factors show their commitment to addressing risks like labour disputes, talent management and maintaining community relationships.
• Governance
Governance in ESG looks at how a company manages itself, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability and compliance. This involves accurate financial reporting, avoiding conflicts of interest and adhering to ethical standards.
Governance may seem less direct than environmental or social issues, but it is critical for ensuring a company’s long-term success. Good governance practices enhance trust with stakeholders and reduce risks like legal issues, reputational damage and conflicts of interest.
In the past, integrating social and environmental concerns into business practices was often an afterthought. However, in the current corporate landscape, ESG reporting has become a cornerstone of corporate strategy.
The growing ESG importance reflects the demand from diverse groups – employees, investors, customers and broader society – for businesses to act responsibly.
How Is the ESG Framework Implemented at Computools?
As a software solutions provider, Computools is dedicated to upholding its core values of Constructiveness, Humanism and Futurism. Our commitment extends to fostering a safe, inclusive and environmentally conscious workplace.
Driven by the mission to continually improve our social and environmental impact, we align our practices with the evolving needs of our clients and the world around us.
Environmental, social and governance considerations are not just tick boxes for us – they are integral to who we are.
1. Environmental responsibility
We believe that environmental sustainability is a vital part of our corporate responsibility.
Our team actively raises awareness about environmental issues and contributes to ecological initiatives such as addressing air pollution challenges.
From recycling and reducing food waste to using eco-friendly resources and participating in tree-planting activities, we are dedicated to creating a healthier world. Our collective efforts have totalled over 21,500 volunteer hours since the company’s inception.
Looking ahead, we are focused on setting realistic emission reduction goals aligned with climate regulations.
We aim to achieve net-zero emissions across all our global locations by 2050, combining immediate action, employee engagement and long-term goals to build a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
2. Social responsibility
The company is dedicated to societal development, with a strong focus on technological education for both its employees and the broader community. We support local educational programmes and offer internships for young professionals, nurturing emerging talent.
Beyond enhancing our internal work environment with health and wellness facilities, our team actively addresses societal needs by supporting the Army with essential supplies and engaging in community-focused volunteer efforts.
The company’s commitment to social responsibility is further emphasised through collaborations with partners like the International Federation for Information Processing, the Enterprise Europe Network, American Data Processing, Inc. and the Software Development Association Poland in various knowledge-sharing initiatives.
We are also dedicated to maintaining an inclusive, non-discriminatory work environment, exemplified by our efforts to achieve a balanced gender representation in management roles.
Central to our corporate social responsibility are respect and professionalism, ensuring fair treatment for all stakeholders.
This commitment to employee well-being and equity was recognised in 2023 with awards in categories like Happiest Employees, Best Compensation and Best Work-Life Balance by the Comparable platform.
3. Business responsibility
As a provider of technology services, our approach to maintaining work relationships is rooted in positive social and ethical standards, professional skills and appropriate behaviour.
This philosophy extends to our interactions with partners and clients in our supply chain, ensuring a mutual commitment to human rights and adherence to ethical codes.
Transparency is a key principle at Computools. We actively support efforts to combat corruption, bribery and extortion.
We adhere to international anti-bribery and corruption laws and ensure that all employees and contractors comply with regulations prohibiting bribery of government officials or seeking unfair business advantages.
Our personnel and associates are accountable for adhering to the legal frameworks and regulations of all countries where we operate. This includes compliance with export restrictions, economic sanctions, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-corruption laws.
Our policies and procedures related to the value chain, distribution and contracting are carefully crafted to consider ethical, social, environmental and societal factors, with a special emphasis on the health and safety of our employees.
This comprehensive approach ensures that the company operates with integrity and responsibility at every level.
Computools: Driving ESG with Sustainable Tech
Sustainable technologies at the company play a key role in enhancing three business areas: technological operations, enterprise-level operations and customer operations.
1. Technological operations
Sustainable IT is central to our software development services, as we focus on the efficient use of tools, hardware and vendors to maximise output while minimising resource use.
Our sustainability objectives include cutting down greenhouse gas emissions relating to IT operations and beyond our direct control.
We also enhance power management by transitioning to more dynamic and efficient strategies for managing power distribution in data centres for planning, monitoring and recording sustainable operations.
2. Enterprise-level operations
Our team focuses on transparent sourcing and trade practices, enhancing energy and material efficiency, reducing emissions and ensuring fair labour practices.
The company’s solutions include the implementation of various digitalisation practices, from automation and artificial intelligence to advanced analytics and cloud technologies, to streamline processes and facilitate remote work.
In supporting sustainable enterprise operations, we prioritise technology investments that align with our organisation’s sustainability strategy.
3. Customer operations
Sustainable technologies at our company not only improve internal operations but also enable the platform and product engineering that help customers achieve their sustainability objectives.
We aim for a deep understanding of our client’s key priorities, even when they may conflict with ours. From initial contact to project completion, we establish clear communication and reporting to ensure smooth collaboration and lasting relationships.
Our team believes in a win-win strategy, effectively resolving any issues through skilled negotiation. We also focus on demonstrating to customers how their use of our products and services supports their sustainability goals.
Reaching Sustainability Goals Through Tech Partnerships
Computools has a long track record of advancing the sustainability agenda. Here are some projects we would like to share with you.
The Finnish start-up E-Feller is on a mission to tackle global food waste challenges. We have developed a functional prototype to manage product expiration dates within the supply chain, allowing the client to benefit from IoT expertise.
In another major environmental initiative, we partnered with Bombardier, a global aviation leader, to enhance the use of paperless technologies in commercial aviation. Our solutions enabled the company to update flight documentation systems, deliver relevant content to the technicians and minimise maintenance time.
This collaboration resulted in a 50% cost reduction and significant automation of Bombardier’s business processes, leading to an ongoing partnership where our company continues to explore new opportunities in paperless solutions and sustainable practices.
Computools designed an accessible portal for energy-saving initiatives for Green Energy, a non-profit organisation in the renewable energy sector. This portal streamlines the process of securing financial support for energy-efficient equipment.
This project resulted in a 10% decrease in the carbon footprint of its users and also provided individuals, contractors and vendors with the knowledge necessary to choose energy-efficient options wisely.
Final Thoughts
In the current corporate environment, the synergy of sustainability and technology has emerged as a key tactic for meeting environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives. This approach not only contributes to ecology but also promotes human rights over the long term.
As organisations become more aware of the impact their operations have on the broader world, the integration of sustainable technologies is transitioning from a mere trend to a fundamental element of business success.
At Computools, our commitment is to build a resilient, ethically sound future. We aspire to shape a world where technology serves as a driving force for enduring, positive change, fostering sustainable development in every aspect.
Feel free to contact us to talk about your project or service requirements. Reach us via email at info@computools.com.
Computools was selected through an RFP process. They were shortlisted and selected from between 5 other suppliers. Computools has worked thoroughly and timely to solve all security issues and launch as agreed. Their expertise is impressive.