What is digital sustainability?

What comes to mind when you think about sustainability? Maybe it’s recycling, switching from fuel-burning cars to electric vehicles or preventing deforestation. For many of us, sustainability is all about the physical world around us.  

What about digital sustainability? Even the digital world can impact our environment, people and the planet. Just because data is in the cloud or an image is on a screen, it doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily more sustainable than the physical equivalent. This conundrum is part of a movement called ‘digital sustainability’, and it’s here to address some of the real-world issues caused by the digital landscape.  

With Deakin expert Mizanur Rashid to guide us, let’s take a closer look at what digital sustainability is all about. 

What does digital sustainability actually mean?  

It’s an understatement to say that digital technology is crucial in 2025 – it’s everywhere we look. While digital tech has brought many benefits (just think about how much you rely on your smartphone, for example), it also raises concerns, particularly regarding its environmental impact. As Rashid explains, this is what digital sustainability really means. 

‘Digital sustainability refers to the creation, use and long-term stewardship of digital systems and content in ways that are environmentally responsible, socially inclusive and culturally meaningful,’ says Rashid. ‘It involves the responsible management of digital infrastructures to minimise ecological harm, reduce waste and ensure cultural continuity through meaningful digital experiences’.

What are examples of digital sustainability? 

Digital technologies can impact the world outside of the digital realm, and this is what digital sustainability is designed to combat. As one study suggests, ‘ICT and information systems are often presented as both a cause and a potential solution to the climate crisis. In fact, data centres and the wider communications sector are set to be responsible for 20% of the world’s electricity use in the coming years.’  

Rashid says that the negative effects of digital tech come from issues such as:  

• High energy consumption of data centres and cloud platforms 

• Short life cycles of digital devices, resulting in significant e-waste 

• Resource-intensive processes required to maintain always-on digital content 

So, why is digital sustainability so important? As the UN Environment Programme puts it: ‘Technology is reshaping our world in profound ways – and the choices we make today hold the power to influence the future of our planet’. 

What does a digital sustainability strategy look like? 

There are countless examples of what digital sustainability means, just as there are with physical forms of sustainability. Some are purely environmental, such as reducing the use of physical materials like printing, paper or transportation). However, Rashid also highlights examples including digital recreations of heritage structures and virtual learning experiences.  

‘Digital sustainability encompasses cloud-first learning environments, such as well-maintained unit sites that serve as primary content hubs,’ Rashid says. ‘It also involves virtual reconstructions and immersive storytelling for heritage sites like the Dennys Lascelles Wool Store, the use of artificial intelligence, 3D modelling and augmented reality to preserve cultural memory without rebuilding physical structures, and regular audits of digital platforms to eliminate redundant data and optimise performance.’ 

Digital sustainability can also include using renewable energy to power digital platforms, reducing physical waste with digital alternatives or even using digital tools to monitor energy usage. It’s a broad category that, as Rashid says, has the potential to create a huge range of positive impacts. 

‘These practices not only lower environmental impact but also foster more meaningful and engaging learning and heritage experiences,’ he says.

What is an example of a sustainable digital design? 

Here’s the scenario: you’re a business, institution or even just an individual. How do you take these ideas of digital sustainability and actually put them into practice? It depends on your size, sector and scope for change, but in general, Rashid has some starter tips for what a digital sustainability strategy looks like: 

• Technical audits: Technology is a huge part of digital sustainability, and a good strategy might include evaluating server loads, cloud service efficiency and device lifecycles. 

• Pedagogical reviews: Especially relevant to teachers and those in higher education, Rashid says these reviews should ‘ensure cloud-first teaching models are pedagogically sound and sustainable.’ 

• Cultural audits: On the heritage side, Rashid is referring to sustainable ways of maintaining links to the past, including ‘Assessing whether digital content preserves emotional and affective dimensions of heritage.’ 

• Stakeholder engagement: It’s essential, Rashid says, to make sure that digital sustainability strategies are inclusive and consultative. That means involving students, community members and users in shaping digital priorities. After all, what is digital sustainability going to achieve without buy-in from the stakeholders and the community?