Dimension Data Achieves Its Carbon Neutral Goal

NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimension Data, the global ICT solutions and services provider, said today that it has reached a major milestone in its sustainability ambition of becoming ¹carbon neutral by reducing its ¹carbon emissions to below one million tons, and preventing 4,000 tons of electronic waste from going to landfill.

When Dimension Data announced its sustainability goals in 2014, the company also said that it would reduce its clients' carbon by 1.8 million tons more than what the company itself produced by using its skills and technology. Dimension Data worked closely with leading consultancies, Carbon Trust and Carbon Smart, to define the targets and methodology for carbon reduction.

Ruth Rowan, Dimension Data's group executive – marketing said, "Climate change remains one of the greatest issues facing all of us, and our clients around the world continue to see sustainability as a high priority within their businesses. Technology can – and is – making a positive difference to improve our environment. We believe that we have a responsibility to bring our 33 years of experience to use technology in the smartest way possible to address these challenges."

Dimension Data also committed to keep its carbon emissions below one million tons for the next five years. Two key areas where organizations can reduce their environmental impact, costs, and improve productivity are:

• Reduce energy by moving servers to the cloud: This could provide an annual savings of 4,000 kWh per server, which is moved to the cloud.
• Reduce travel by using visual communications technology: There's an average annual savings of 600,000 miles per telepresence unit; 11,818 miles per video conference unit; and 23,636 miles per managed video conference unit.

And for companies planning to expand and grow, it's vital to ensure that they don't increase their carbon footprint at the same rate. This can be achieved by not increasing the average carbon produced per person, not increasing the carbon produced per ITaaS equipment rack and ensuring that data centers are energy efficient.

According to Livescience.com, the average temperature of the earth has risen between 0.4 and 0.8 °C over the past 100 years. The increased volumes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing, agriculture and other human activities, are believed to be the primary sources of the global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate carrying out global warming research have recently predicted that average global temperatures could increase between 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the year 2100. Changes resulting from global warming may include rising sea levels due to the melting of the polar ice caps, as well as an increase in the occurrence and severity of storms and other severe weather events.

note to editors

On 18 January 2017, the World Meteorological Organization announced that 2016 was the hottest year on record.

¹ Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference.

About Dimension Data
Founded in 1983, Dimension Data plc is an ICT services and solutions provider that uses its technology expertise, global service delivery capability and entrepreneurial spirit to accelerate the business ambitions of its clients. Dimension Data is a member of the NTT Group. Visit us at http://www.dimensiondata.com/en-US, like us on www.facebook.com/DimensionDataAmericas or follow us @DimensionDataAM. 

For further information, please contact:

SOURCE Dimension Data

Related Links

http://www.dimensiondata.com