Digital technology underpins our daily lives and is vital to learning and teaching. However, there is a significant carbon cost, both in emissions and in hardware manufacture and disposal, so we are working to reduce our carbon footprint. As part of our policies and values, we are embedding digital sustainability in our IT strategy, web and digital transformation plans.

Sustainable procurement and vendor management

In line with the Sustainable Procurement Policy, all procurement for servers, end user devices and other equipment includes a minimum 10% weighting for sustainability. The goals set out in this policy include that all new suppliers appointed following a tender process are expected to fully sign up to the NETpositive Net Zero Carbon Supplier Tool and that we actively engage with our highest emitting suppliers to reduce emissions.

The University of Bath is a Microsoft based organisation, and recognises that Microsoft maintains certification to ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) and ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems) for its cloud and data centre operations.

Optimising cloud and infrastructure usage

As part of developing our Cloud Centre of Excellence and updating our facilities, we are delivering several initiatives which will reduce our carbon consumption across the digital estate, including:

• Migrating legacy on-premises systems to energy-efficient cloud services where possible
• Auditing and decommissioning unused virtual machines, servers or test environments. This has reduced the number of servers in our data centres by 80%
• Using vented air and an adiabatic water cooling system, which harnesses the natural process of evaporation and does not use harmful refrigerants

Digital skills and engagement

We run campaigns to promote awareness among staff and students, and we include eco-friendly digital habits in new onboarding and digital skills training. We also support wider University campaigns to reduce energy use, including the Winter Holiday Switch Off and Save energy in your lab.

Extending hardware lifecycles

The University’s IT Equipment Policy states that any unused equipment must be returned to DDaT for reuse. Our recycling partner has a zero-landfill policy and ethical guidelines in line with the University's sustainability strategy, and passes usable equipment to local charities where possible.

Our laptop and desktop supplier is working to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It has expanded the use of closed-loop recycled materials in its products, including plastic, metals and rare earth elements, and provides extensive repair resources to extend lifecycles and reduce e-waste.

We also periodically organise events to collect any unwanted personal or University-owned IT equipment and put it to better use, such as The Big Tech Drop-Off.