Dimension Data publishes 2013 Sustainability Report

In 2008, when Dimension Data launched its global environmental sustainability programme to integrate improvements to its own environmental performance with its business strategy, the company recognised that, while they're not a manufacturer of goods, their operations have a part to play in addressing the causes of climate change (the emission of GHGs).

Brett Dawson, Dimension Data's Group CEO says "The cornerstone of Dimension Data's environmental sustainability strategy is to reduce travel, energy, and waste for our clients, our own business, and our employees by providing ICT solutions that lower costs, minimise environmental damage, and benefit society. We take this responsibility very seriously.

"The past ten years have seen unparalleled changes in how the world communicates, conducts business, and how we go about our daily lives. Technology has been the driving force behind much of this change, and I'm convinced that the near future will bring about new developments that we can't even dream of today. However, as we innovate, we also need to be responsible," explains Dawson.

In the Report's future section, Dimension Data says it has identified air travel and data centres as the two most significant sources of carbon emissions within its organisation, and points out that it has set its own targets based on the reduction of travel and energy as both of these have a direct relationship with cost and carbon.

The 2013 Sustainability Report lists other examples of how Dimension Data has helped some of its clients to reduce energy, water consumption, costs and electronic waste through its ICT solutions.

A major South African financial services provider reduced its energy and water consumption by consolidating storage and computing needs of four separate divisions into one highly intelligent data centre, delivering greater stability, scalability, and flexibility.

Through our cloud computing services, we helped a major toy manufacturer reduce its costs by 30%, while simultaneously reducing energy usage and electronic waste. Studies show that large US businesses can create aggregate savings by 2020 of USD 12.3 billion and 87.5 million tons of carbon by moving IT infrastructure to the cloud[1].

Dimension Data's global eWaste programme helped many clients reduce the amount of electronic waste sent to landfill over the past two years. In addition, Dimension Data reduced its own carbon emissions from business operations by 16% in FY13 compared to FY12.

"With over seven billion people now inhabiting our planet, mankind's footprint has never been larger, and we need to learn to tread lightly. Managing our impact on society and the environment is everyone's responsibility, not only that of government or individual leaders. I believe that businesses also have a clear responsibility beyond their financial gains," concludes Dawson.