9 Ways to Reduce Your Digital Pollution

When thinking about technological advancements and innovation, we tend to think of all the benefits. Workflows are optimized, collaboration across departments is easier, information is more accessible… the list could be endless. But we rarely think about what it takes to run all of it behind the scenes.

The reality is that it takes a lot of resources to build all the technology we use on a daily basis, and most of the time, we never think of the consequences. The heaps of garbage that build up from all the latest tech drops or the polluted water and landscapes due to adjacent data centers.

This Earth Day, we encourage you to think critically about the way you’re using technology and how you can encourage those around you to push for a more sustainable future.

What is Digital Pollution?

Digital pollution is the carbon emissions and waste created by device manufacturing, e-waste, and digital activity.

Device Manufacturing

Manufacturing devices such as smartphones, tablets, and even electric vehicles requires substantial energy and the extraction of raw materials. Extracting these materials contributes to major biodiversity loss and wreaks havoc on our local environment by contaminating groundwater systems and soil. 

Most of the total carbon footprint comes from the manufacturing of devices, especially considering the majority of devices are improperly disposed of and left in landfills.

E-waste

E-waste, also known as electronic waste, refers to all the electronic equipment that is no longer in use and that, for the most part, ends up in landfills. According to the Global E-waste Monitor, in 2022, 62 billion kg of e-waste were generated globally. While 22% of that e-waste is formally collected and recycled, millions of kg of materials are released into the environment every year.

It’s important to note that a large amount of e-waste is transported to countries like India and China. This leaves them dealing with toxic substances that negatively impact their population and environment, even if they aren’t the highest digital consumers. 

Digital Practices

Given the recent AI boom, the carbon footprint of global technology consumption has seen tremendous growth. It is expected that the increased demand from data centres will increase global carbon emissions by 215-220 million tons by 2030. Not only that, these data centres require substantial use of fresh water to keep them cool. 

Although generative AI has seen a significant increase in use, AI has been embedded into our everyday lives for decades. Social media feeds are populated using an AI algorithm, Google Maps uses AI to analyze real-time traffic, and tools like Grammarly implement AI to correct and improve writing. None of this is new to us. 

What is new is giving the general public the capability to create “original” content based on prompts. With users having this newfound ability, it is even more important to take a thoughtful approach to digital consumption. While simultaneously pushing for political policies that protect people against the societal and environmental repercussions. 

So what can you do? Here are some steps that you can take as an individual to reduce your digital pollution and strive for a greener future.

Re-think Your Next Tech Purchase

Think before you buy! If you have a functioning device, rethink your desire to replace it with the newest tech advancement. One of the biggest contributors to digital pollution is the disposal of gadgets. Try to extend the lifespan of your devices by maintaining and repairing rather than replacing them.

Recycle Old Electronics

If you absolutely need to replace your electronic devices, make sure to drop them off at a recycling program that can properly disassemble them and recover parts. Ask your organization if they can organize a recycling program or find a local program near you.

Reduce Your Digital Clutter

Every open tab, stored email, or idle app is consuming energy through background processes and ongoing syncing. By clearing your digital clutter, you are reducing the demand on your device and the servers supporting it.

Reduce Cloud Storage and Syncing

Every photo, video, file, or application on your devices requires energy to store. Many people end up paying for additional cloud storage to store it all. By deleting duplicate or old files, not only can you reduce your digital footprint, but you can also save money.

If you need to rely on cloud syncing, try to be more intentional about what needs to be transferred across devices. Every cloud sync requires files to be uploaded, stored and duplicated across multiple devices. Instead, you can select specific folders that sync and avoid backing up temporary files like downloads and screenshots. This is effective in reducing your digital clutter and minimizing data transfers happening behind the scenes.

Download Your Media

Streaming your music, videos, games, and even scrolling social media involves heavy data usage by consistently transmitting data from servers to your device for immediate viewing. If there’s a playlist you consistently play or a comfort movie you love to watch on repeat, consider downloading them instead of streaming to save some energy.

Use a Green Search Engine

The search engine Ecosia uses its profits from paid advertisers to fund reforestation projects. Involved with 9,000 planting sites, they’ve already helped plant 250 million trees all over the world! Reforestation is an important cause for so many communities, because trees do so much more than just absorb CO2. Trees can restart water cycles, protect and create wildlife habitat, improve soil fertility, and uplift local communities. That’s a lot of good for a simple search.

Ecosia also uses smaller, faster AI models that deliver accurate answers from reliable sources, while using less energy. It also produces more clean energy than it takes to power all searches and AI queries on Ecosia, leading to more renewable energy in the grid.

Choose a Green Hosting Platform

If you have a website, choose a green hosting partner.
Green web hosting aims to reduce the environmental impact
of a website’s energy consumption by using renewable energy or carbon offsetting. These opportunities have become more mainstream, meaning the speed and reliability of your website isn’t being compromised.

Focus on Intentional Consumption

Social platforms are built to be addictive and encourage users to consistently scroll. One of the best ways to reduce digital consumption is to be more intentional about how you spend your time on your devices. Breaking these habits is not easy, but there are plenty of methods, such as time limits or a physical tool like Brick that removes apps and notifications until you physically tap your phone to unlock them.

Get Involved

While all these suggestions can reduce your personal digital footprint, it’s important to remember the effects of businesses and larger conglomerates that largely contribute to the world’s digital consumption. The best way towards a greener future is to get involved in your local community and government to demand more sustainable laws and policies. 
At Plank, we are committed to building websites that contribute to an ethical and sustainable web. Take a look at our Ethical Web Collective, which encourages the web community to join us in this continuous journey to make the web a better place.