IT Infrastructure is the hidden carbon culprit in the office and SMEs must change

Supply chain pressure, upcoming ESG regulation, and energy price volatility are forcing SMEs to prioritise IT sustainability, whether they’re ready or not. 

Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’, it’s a business-critical necessity. From supply chain expectations to upcoming ESG reporting requirements, IT infrastructure is fast becoming a business-critical issue, yet many smaller organisations remain unprepared.  

With the UK legally committed to hitting net zero by 2050, initiatives like the SME Climate Hub are calling on smaller businesses to halve emissions by 2030 and report progress annually. The British Business Bank has already supported over £12.5 billion in funding to help smaller firms adopt greener technologies and improve energy efficiency, creating a clear expectation that businesses will need to demonstrate measurable emissions reductions. 

“There’s a misconception that sustainability in IT is only relevant to large businesses but SMEs are now facing increasing pressure, whether that’s by clients, regulators, partners, or their own energy bills, to green their IT operations.” said Richard Puckey, Head of Compliance at Espria. 

“Pressure is coming from all sides; supply chain partners are demanding more transparency, and regulatory frameworks like the UK’s Sustainability Reporting Standards and the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive are beginning to filter through, setting new expectations for smaller businesses. 

“Even energy price volatility is forcing SMEs to look at how their IT choices effect costs and carbon footprint. IT infrastructure is often the silent carbon culprit in the office, and it’s time we started treating it as such.” 

By managing hardware lifecycles and choosing remanufactured devices, Puckey believes that SMEs have practical options that can reduce emissions without compromising their IT operations. 

“One of the most overlooked issues is the environmental footprint of hardware refresh cycles. Regular upgrades and poor disposal practices are driving up e-waste, with SMEs having little visibility into the lifecycle footprint of their devices. 

“When it’s time to part ways with your IT equipment, businesses need to ensure that it’s disposed of in an environmentally responsible way. Recycling end-of-life devices minimises e-waste especially where hardware can be re-purposed thus contributing to saving carbon emissions and reducing landfill waste. 

“Beyond recycling, SMEs should consider opting for refurbished or remanufactured IT hardware options instead of always buying new. Compared to manufacturing new units, high-quality remanufactured devices from certified providers not only costs less, but also dramatically reduces emissions since the materials from the original manufacturing process are reused. For SMEs with tight budgets, refurbished IT can meet spend and performance requirements while supporting sustainability goals.” 

The same principle of avoiding waste in hardware also applies to software and infrastructure, where inefficiencies can quietly drive up both energy use and costs. 

“Physical servers can be a source of inefficiency for many SMEs, taking up space, requiring energy-intensive cooling, and often running below capacity. This results in wasted disk space, higher operating costs, and unnecessary emissions. By migrating to the cloud, businesses can store and access data in an eco-friendlier and more cost-effective way that suits businesses whether they work on premises or across hybrid work settings. 

“But it’s not just hardware, software renewals and licensing can also contribute to carbon footprints. Many SMEs don’t realise they are paying for unused or under-used licenses and software. This “shelfware” still requires maintenance, updates and backups which only contribute to unnecessary energy usage. 

“Conducting regular audits, negotiating contracts, and terminating auto-renewals can deliver savings and reduce environmental impact. This is increasingly important as expectations grow around carbon disclosure and Scope 3 emissions. 

Puckey concludes, “In today’s market, IT infrastructure is the silent carbon culprit in the office, and it’s time we started treating it as such. For SMEs, every decision around hardware, software and infrastructure has an environmental impact that can be reduced and mitigated. From opting for remanufactured devices to auditing software usage and moving servers to the cloud, IT leaders can save money and make an immediate positive impact on the environment.”