We aspire to play an active role in creating a more ethical, respectful and sustainable digital world.

A digital world is anything but invisible and unaccountable.

The socio-environmental impacts of digital technology are numerous.

Far from leading us towards ‘dematerialization’, the digital realm is in fact highly material in nature. It is grounded in numerous physical resources, which have impacts on individuals and society at three key levels: the manufacturing of digital infrastructures, their usage, and their end-of-life disposal. The entire lifecycle must be considered when discussing the impact of digital technology.

In an era where we’re talking about climate change and planetary limits, it’s essential to really question our practices.

We don’t claim to have exhaustively analyzed all data, but here are some key statistics that give us a broad overview of these impacts.

The growing environmental impact of the digital sector

The digital sector is a major energy consumer. According to various sources, the digital sector accounts for between 4% to 5.5% of global annual electricity consumption. This consumption is primarily driven by the manufacturing and use of electronic devices. Data centers, through their servers and cooling systems, as well as communication networks, also represent a significant demand for fossil fuels (coal, oil). Data centers alone consume 2% of the world’s electricity.
The greenhouse gas emissions of the digital sector account for between 3% to 4% of global emissions. According to Ademe, data centers generate 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions related to digital technology. Whether it’s energy or emissions, these numbers are expected to rise in the coming years, driven by the growing needs of the artificial intelligence industry. To recap, a single request on ChatGPT requires nearly 10 times more energy (2.9 Wh) than a request on Google (0.3 Wh).
E-Waste production: In 2022, 62 million tons of e-waste were generated. The current extractive and linear logic is leading to an exponential growth in this e-waste, largely driven by the obsolescence of our electronic devices. This obsolescence is fueled by a multitude of factors. These waste streams have significant human and environmental consequences, including pollution, public health risks, and the lack of material recycling.
Extracting abiotic resources: these multiple physical infrastructures supporting digital technology are made from natural resources such as rare metals (lithium, cobalt, etc.), minerals (copper, lead, etc.), and fossil fuels. This extraction raises numerous environmental concerns, including the destruction of ecosystems and toxic releases into nature to extract these metals. Socially concerning questions related to working conditions are also a factor to consider. The use of vital resources such as water is also staggering. For example, in 2021, Google’s water consumption for its US data centers alone reached over 16 billion liters.

The growing individual impacts of digitalization

The concerning trends around digitalization are numerous: over-connectivity, overconsumption, impulsive purchases, misinformation, anxiety, social isolation, infringement on the right to disconnect, digital divides, privacy and data security issues, lack of access to rights, and algorithmic discrimination.
In addition, there are the precarious working conditions in extractive industries, especially in Southern countries, the devastating impact of water scarcity on local communities, and the severe negative effects on public health, exacerbated by pollution.

Another digital way is possible

For several years, we have been questioning ourselves personally on the social and environmental implications of technology.

Every single line of code that we create, through software and physical infrastructure, every electronic device created and used, every new IT infrastructure will leave a footprint on our planet and on individuals.

This growing awareness has prompted us to question our digital practices and those of the vast majority of society.
At its core, we are convinced that it is possible to have a digitally-driven world, with its benefits, serving humanity while being respectful of the planet.

So, we decided to act.

⤷ We created Axoly Tech, a software development and auditing company, specialized in eco-design.

We focused on software because it’s our area of expertise.

Contrary to common perception, software, computer programs, web applications, and digital services do indeed have an impact on the environment and individuals.

To function, these software solutions require a multitude of external resources and raw materials. These same software systems also directly contribute to the obsolescence of our devices and can compromise our privacy. Furthermore, they can lead to the exclusion of certain people from their use, while also risking the creation of addictive behaviors in others.

With this simplified schema, here’s where we are:

Resources extracted → Hardware → Software → Usage.

One of the tools to take concrete action against these consequences is the eco-design of digital services.

At Axoly Tech, eco-design is integrated from the outset of every project and throughout its entire lifecycle.

It’s a fundamental principle.

How are we working towards these objectives?

At our scale, we’re daily striving to deeply embed these principles into our business model.
Our ambition is to inspire other organizations by contributing to a heightened awareness of the environmental and social implications of digital technology.

We’ve partnered with SustAIn.brussels, the European hub for digital innovation in Brussels, and are actively following a program to better integrate sustainability into our service offerings.
Axoly Tech is a signatory of the Sustainable IT Charter since 2023, which marks our commitment to developing more ethical, sustainable, and inclusive digital practices.
Our work relies on international reference guides such as the GR491 and the Green Soft model.
We engage in conferences, roundtable discussions, and industry salons to raise awareness about the impacts of technology and share ideas with other professionals in the digital sector, as well as from diverse backgrounds. Interdisciplinarity is essential to us.
Finally, we’ve created a podcast: Axoly Tech Podcast (available in Spanish, Ignacio’s native language). You’ll learn more about global digital challenges, sometimes accompanied by experts: artificial intelligence, mining extraction, data centers, software obsolescence, and impacts on the global South… Many fascinating topics. Some of these contents are shared on our Articles page.

On a daily basis, our work focuses particularly on two aspects:

➯ On an environmental level,

Every software we create for you is eco-designed and developed based on green coding practices and international standards in the field.
At every stage of creation and during final use, we measure the energy consumed by the software, ensuring a minimal environmental footprint.
Depending on your preferences, we guide you towards more ethical hosting solutions for your newly developed software.
We’re fighting e-waste by designing your software to ensure optimal use on older devices.
We conduct audits of your websites, software, and web applications focusing on Green IT and eco-design to help you assess your environmental efforts.
Following this, we provide you with advice and support to help you achieve your sustainable digital goals.
We also offer training sessions, including eco-design, Green IT and ethical and sustainable digital practices. Knowledge transfer is essential to sustain these practices within your organization.

➯ On a human level,

We’ve reached a point where the current digital landscape is hindering our freedom, privacy and rights. However, alternatives exist, such as eco-designed and ethical software.

At Axoly Tech, we guarantee you:

Software developed with complete transparency;
Respect of your privacy and protection of your data, as well as that of your clients;
Free from aspects related to attention economy and dark patterns;
No subscription obligations, you’re not locked into a single company and are free to make choices;
Complete ownership of what has been developed.

What sets Axoly Tech apart ?

Very few software development companies have a vision and a particular focus on the environmental and social impacts they generate. For us, this is a crucial issue. We can no longer continue down this digital path.

Undoubtedly, the transition to a more sustainable and ethical digital landscape, connected to the circular economy and sustainable development, will not happen overnight. However, we are actively collaborating with the companies that have chosen to place their trust in us and are eager to be part of this change.

And from a financial perspective?

A eco-designed software is not necessarily more expensive to develop.
Yet, the benefits are numerous: it allows for reducing the global environmental impact of digital technologies, aligning with your sustainability goals, whether intrinsic or related to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Furthermore, it contributes to improving performance and efficiency of your services, while meeting increasing client demands for sustainability. By adopting an eco-responsible approach, you can also strengthen your brand image and differentiate yourself on a market where socio-environmental concerns are becoming increasingly prominent.

What are the projects for the future?

We hope that more and more organizations, whether SMEs, associations, or startups in need of custom software, will recognize the importance of eco-design, ethical design, and the digital impacts on our planet. This issue concerns us all.

Regarding Axoly Tech, we have the goal of training ourselves to create software that is completely accessible to people with disabilities, so that they are not automatically excluded from these new technologies.
We also aspire to develop additional internal tools to further optimize our software and enhance its positive impact.
We also plan to develop a detailed roadmap to solidify sustainable practices even more deeply within the services we offer you.

Let’s never rest on our laurels; instead, let’s continuously learn and evolve towards improvement.

If the digital future matters to you as much as it does to us, then feel free to get in touch!

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