The ICT sector is responsible for approximately 4% of global CO₂ emissions, though its full impact is difficult to measure due to the complexity of supply chains and product lifecycles. The need for sustainable ICT is urgent, given the rapid digitalisation of daily life and the ever-increasing demand for electronic devices.
Public procurement has the potential to be a transformative force in making ICT more sustainable. By setting clear environmental and social criteria, public authorities can significantly influence the production and lifecycle of digital products. This means tackling interconnected challenges—from raw material extraction to production, usage, and end-of-life disposal. To create a truly sustainable ICT ecosystem, public buyers must consider how their procurement choices impact these processes and strive to integrate sustainability at every stage.
Big Buyers Working Together: a platform to learn and exchange
The Big Buyers Working Together Community of Practice on Sustainability in ICT, recently brought procurement professionals together for a dedicated training session focused on integrating sustainability certifications into ICT procurement. Held in January 2025, the session empowered participants with a better knowledge of challenges and opportunities in sustainable ICT, and equipped them with better expertise on sustainability certifications. A particular focus was placed on the TCO Certified certification, which offers comprehensive criteria addressing social and environmental responsibility across the entire product life cycle.
Key sustainability challenges in ICT
Public buyers are facing a multifaceted challenge in addressing the sustainability of ICT. For example, smartphones are produced using many substances, some of which are critical or rare. The production of an electronic chip requires the usage of 16,000 substances, many of which have not yet been officially certified, and only 20% of the e-waste produced is currently collected and recycled, exacerbating resource scarcity and increasing environmental harm.
The supply chain of digital products is very complex, making tracking all the phases of the process difficult, from the extraction of raw materials to the production facilities, transportation, usage, and end-of-life. As a consequence, it is difficult to precisely measure the carbon footprint of the digital sector. In addition, different measurements exist on the market, which makes both the calculation and benchmarking among products difficult.
Procurement as a tool for change
To effectively address sustainability challenges in the ICT industry, public buyers can adopt several strategic procurement approaches. One impactful tactic is purchasing second-hand or refurbished products and planning for longer use. Given that manufacturing is the most environmentally intensive phase of an ICT product’s life cycle, extending the lifespan of devices can significantly reduce emissions. For example, using a notebook for six years instead of four can lead to a 29.9% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Another approach is promoting ‘sober-workplace’ management by reducing the number of ICT devices per employee, thereby limiting unnecessary monitors and other equipment. This minimises electronic waste while ensuring that only essential devices are in use.
Full-life cycle management is also crucial, ensuring that the environmental impact of ICT is considered from production to disposal. Public buyers should factor in long-term sustainability as much as possible when making procurement decisions. Additionally, incorporating supply-chain responsibility and due diligence as key procurement priorities enables public authorities to push for ethical sourcing and improved transparency in ICT manufacturing processes.
The advantages of sustainable certifications
Using sustainable certifications can further support sustainability goals by setting criteria for environmental and social responsibility. These certifications help buyers ensure compliance with sustainability standards and include mandatory product lifetime extension requirements. They not only offer comprehensive criteria that can go beyond existing regulations but also provide independent verification, ensuring transparency and accountability.
To maximise the effectiveness of sustainable certifications, when including one in tenders, public buyers should consider three key questions: Does it include up-to-date environmental and social sustainability criteria? Does it mandate independent verification of compliance? Does it establish a system of industry accountability and consequence?
Ensuring these factors can strengthen the role of sustainable certifications in ICT procurement, making them a reliable tool for driving positive change in the sector.
Public authorities have a powerful role to play in shaping a more sustainable ICT sector. By embedding rigorous sustainability criteria in procurement processes and fostering long-term collaborations between buyers and suppliers, they can contribute to reducing carbon emissions, increasing circularity, and ensuring more responsible supply chains.
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Big Buyers Working Together (BBWT) is a EU-funded project supporting collaboration between public buyers with strong purchasing power and promoting the wider use of strategic public procurement for innovative and sustainable solutions.
The BBWT training was informed by insights from the Roadmap to Sustainable IT developed by TCO Development.
To stay engaged and learn more about sustainable procurement practices, join the Big Buyers Working Together initiative and become part of the Community of Practice on Sustainability in ICT.
