The Environmental Impact of Digital Technology: How can we Reconcile Progress and Ecology?

The rapid expansion of the digital sector, a major driver of innovation, raises pressing environmental concerns. While information and communication technologies (ICT) provide numerous opportunities, their development entails high-energy consumption and increasing generation of electronic waste. This ecological footprint, far from negligible, represents a significant challenge to the health of our planet. Addressing it requires adopting more sustainable practices to mitigate the environmental impact of digital technologies. In this context, the concept of Green IT, sometimes also referred to as sustainable IT, has emerged as a promising approach. It aims to minimize the environmental impact of ICT throughout their entire life cycle, from design to disposal. Key practices include eco-design, energy efficiency improvements, and responsible management of electronic waste. Adopting such strategies, helps reduce the environmental damage associated with the digital industry. Our research examines the environmental challenges arising from the widespread use of digital technologies and explores initiatives promoting sustainability. By focusing on energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy sources, we investigate how companies can decrease their ecological footprint while still benefiting from digital innovation. We also explore how technological progress can be aligned with environmental responsibility. To achieve this, we combine a comprehensive literature review with a field survey of companies that have implemented Green IT practices. The study identifies best practices, the obstacles encountered, and the levers that can accelerate the transition to sustainable digitalization. Our analysis addresses several dimensions: assessing the environmental footprint of ICT (notably carbon emissions and electronic waste), reviewing initiatives such as eco-design and energy optimization, examining factors that facilitate or hinder adoption, and evaluating the environmental, economic, and social benefits of these practices. The findings of this study provide concrete recommendations for businesses, policymakers, and civil society actors, aiming to foster a digital economy where innovation and environmental stewardship are pursued together rather than as competing priorities.