Digital Sustainability: Data Management and Resources

Digital Sustainability: Data Management and Resources

Digital Sustainability: Data Management and Resources

The advancing digitalization of our society is undoubtedly associated with a variety of advantages and contributes to improving numerous areas of life. But all too often it is forgotten that the digital world is also based on limited resources and their extraction and use can have a significant impact on our environment. This is where the concept of digital sustainability comes into play. This article examines the key areas of data management and resource efficiency and provides concrete suggestions on how to ensure greater sustainability in the digital world.

What is digital sustainability?

Digital sustainability is an approach to the design and use of digital technologies that aims to minimize the negative impact on the environment and society while maximizing the positive effects. The concept is closely related to the principles of sustainability as defined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

The role of data management

In the digital world, an ever-increasing amount of data is generated, processed and stored. This “big data” brings with it both challenges and opportunities.

The challenges of big data

Energy consumption

Significant energy consumption occurs in data centers where most of this data is processed and stored. According to the Borderstep study from 2019, information technology and communication (ICT) alone accounted for 3.9 percent of total electricity consumption in Germany. A more conscious handling of data and more efficient data management strategies can make an important contribution to reducing energy consumption.

Resource consumption

In addition, the production of storage media and servers places a significant burden on the environment. Rare earths and other raw materials required for the production of hardware are limited and their mining often has serious social and environmental consequences.

Data garbage

Another challenge is the so-called data garbage. This is data that is no longer used but remains stored, thus wasting storage space and energy.

The opportunities of big data for sustainability

Optimization of processes

However, data can be not only a burden, but also a key to solving sustainability problems. For example, through intelligent analysis of large amounts of data, procedures and processes can be optimized and resources saved.

Sustainability assessment

Data can also be used to evaluate and improve the sustainability of products and services. For example, life cycle assessment (LCA) can be used to collect and analyze data on the environmental impact of products.

Strategies for sustainable data management

Sustainable data management aims to minimize the negative effects of data processing and maximize the positive ones.

Data minimization

The principle of data minimization means only collecting and storing the data that is really necessary. This not only saves resources, but also meets data protection requirements.

Efficient data processing

The efficiency of data processing can be increased, for example, by using energy-efficient hardware and software. In addition, data centers can be designed so that they use energy efficiently and use waste heat sensibly.

Recycling of data

Reusing data can increase its usefulness and reduce the need to collect new data. Of course, data protection must be taken into account.

Sustainable procurement and disposal of IT hardware

The sustainable procurement of IT hardware involves both the selection of more environmentally friendly and socially acceptable products as well as the fair and environmentally friendly disposal of old devices.

Conclusion

Digital sustainability is an important contribution to securing our natural resources and promoting a fair society. Sustainable data management represents a central strategic challenge, but also offers a variety of opportunities. Through the intelligent use and processing of data, not only can resources be saved, but important insights can also be gained for shaping a sustainable future.