The expert panel on sustainable tech was one of the most appreciated sessions at DAM Day, sparking insightful discussions and leaving a lasting impression on our audience. Moderated by our own DAM expert and Business Development Officer, Hootan Soheilzad, the panel delved deep into the critical issues surrounding sustainability in the tech industry and provided practical solutions for companies looking to make a real impact.
Missed the panel? Watch the full discussion on sustainable tech here
Expert panelists: Hootan Soheilzad, from QBank, Lasse Fredslund from Umbraco, Sofie Bergbom from Nexer Group and Johan Boström SaaS Entrepreneur.
The hidden cost of digital technologies
One of the key takeaways from the panel was the surprising amount of energy consumed by even the simplest digital tasks. Our moderator opened the conversation with a staggering comparison: the carbon footprint of data storage and digital assets now exceeds that of the entire commercial flight industry.
Data centers worldwide consume vast amounts of electricity—equivalent to powering thousands of homes—while AI technologies, from ChatGPT to image generation, use significant energy that many are unaware of. As Johan Boström, one of our panelists and co-founder of inRiver PIM, pointed out: “A single AI-generated image can consume as much energy as producing a bottle of Coca-Cola.”
The lack of awareness
Despite these shocking statistics, there’s still a significant gap in awareness. Sofie Bergbom, Director at Nexer Group, highlighted that current regulations in many countries are still years away from requiring tech companies to report their environmental impact. Without regulatory pressure, many businesses remain unaware of how much energy they’re consuming or duplicating through redundant processes.
Johan added: “It’s not transparent. People don’t know they’re using this much energy, and companies aren't doing enough to make that information available.”
This gap in awareness is where businesses can step up by educating their teams and clients. Tools like Eco Grader mentioned by Lasse Fredslund from Umbraco, can provide insight into how much energy your digital assets are consuming and offer suggestions for optimization.
Sustainability through Digital Asset Management
Reducing data redundancy and cleaning up IT systems were key points in the discussion. With the explosion of content creation, driven by AI and user demands for personalization, companies are creating and storing more assets than ever before. However, as Johan Boström noted, “Avoiding redundancy and optimizing storage isn’t just good for the environment—it’s good for your bottom line.”
Sofie also shared an example of a major automotive company that significantly reduced costs and their environmental footprint by shutting down 800 redundant systems. This dual focus on sustainability and cost savings is crucial for driving meaningful change.
Making your website more sustainable
Another topic the panel dove into was the sustainability of websites and digital assets. Lasse emphasized that simple optimizations can make a big difference. Compressing images, choosing the right file formats, and minimizing the number of assets loaded on each page not only reduce your carbon footprint but also improve site performance.
“Tools like Eco Grader offer a great starting point for understanding how much energy your website consumes. You’ll not only reduce emissions but also end up with a faster, more responsive site,” Lasse explained.
Leveraging AI for sustainable solutions
While AI is often seen as a contributor to energy consumption, it can also be a powerful tool for sustainability when used wisely. The panelists discussed several success stories where AI was used to optimize data storage, reduce redundancy, and even offer climate-friendly website versions.
However, as Sofie and Johan pointed out, businesses need to be cautious about overusing AI for content generation. While AI can generate vast amounts of content, companies must ensure that they’re producing the right content, rather than flooding storage with unnecessary assets.
Key takeaways: How to get started
The panel left the audience with several actionable steps to start making an impact:
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Reduce redundancy: Clean up your IT systems and minimize duplicated data. This saves both money and energy.
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Educate your team: Raise awareness about the energy consumption of digital tools and processes. Tools like Eco Grader are a great place to start.
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Optimize your website: Implement best practices for sustainable website design, including compressing images and reducing load times.
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Leverage AI wisely: Use AI to reduce data duplication and optimize storage, but be mindful of overuse in content generation.
As the tech industry continues to evolve, so too does the responsibility to ensure that our innovations are aligned with sustainability goals. By taking proactive steps, businesses can lead the way in creating a more environmentally friendly future, while also driving down costs and improving efficiency.
Want to learn more? Watch the full discussion on sustainable tech here