Time to set sustainability requirements when procuring cloud services and IT infrastructure

With the use of AI, 5G and the transition to the cloud, huge amounts of data are now managed in various cloud platforms. This is a prerequisite for digitalisation and benefits individuals, companies and society. But it also has a much greater impact on our climate than many realise. The world's data centres

currently have a climate impact on par with the entire global aviation industry.

However, it is not a given that companies will require sustainable production when procuring cloud services and IT infrastructure.

To truly achieve change in the industry, customers must now impose stricter sustainability requirements when procuring cloud and infrastructure services. The possibility of reaching the EU's goal of climate-neutral production of digital services by 2030 cannot depend on the will of a few players, but must become as obviously a requirement in procurement as technical evaluation is.

In recent years, the cloud company Binero has focused strongly on reducing its climate impact, and last year their facility north of Stockholm became the first data centre in the world to receive the international Fossil Free Data Centre environmental certification.

We find that many companies are still unaware that their choice of cloud service provider can also represent a significant advancement in the company’s sustainability work. By choosing a climate-certified provider, instead of those who primarily prioritise rapid expansion, they can reduce both their carbon footprint and energy consumption.

Choosing sustainability does not mean you have to compromise on performance or price.

On the contrary, we see examples of customers who, when moving from a global cloud to our Swedish cloud platform, get a 30% faster cloud at 30% lower cost – and it is also 100% fossil-free with market-leading minimal levels of energy consumption. Today, there is no contradiction between technology, price and sustainability.

Swedish industry players are generally far ahead in their climate work, and there are more sustainability benefits for both individuals and society from using a local provider.

Only cloud service providers based in Europe can guarantee their customers’ privacy and data protection according to European law and GDPR. When you choose a Swedish cloud platform, you also support a growing new Swedish industry, which is also important for our digital sovereignty.