Sustainability spotlight
Setting the sustainability agenda for the channel
Gavin Jones, Channel Sales Director of BT Wholesale discusses the need to implement change to ensure a low carbon future.
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limate change is arguably the biggest environmental issue for stakeholders and businesses across the UK. Monitoring energy use
can be difficult to navigate for businesses as industries are evolving at a rapid rate, with digital transformation on every street corner. Nonetheless, sustainability and digital transformation
go together hand-in-hand; reducing the carbon footprint of businesses should be at the forefront at every stage of the digital transformation journey – including within the channel. In fact, recent research found that 57% of IT decision makers expect suppliers to take a leading position around sustainability by 2025, showing that the time is now for embracing sustainable practices.
Championing change, together Te sustainability challenge is much bigger than the channel, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all do our bit to create a fairer, more resilient and low carbon society. Tere are multiple ways that we can overcome sustainability issues in the channel. Partnering with others who share the same agenda is a good start, as is investing in energy-efficient solutions. Reducing the channel’s impact on the environment requires a
collective, collaborative effort. Larger vendors in particular have a responsibility to champion a green recovery and set an example, such as by striving to reach net zero carbon emissions. Vendors should also commit to developing low carbon products and solutions that enable partners to reduce their carbon footprints, as well as their customers’. In addition, all channel organisations should consider whether
deployments are truly being delivered in the most efficient way. Take data centres for example: if partners are storing data within on-premises setups that takes huge amounts of energy to keep operational and cool. A better option then could be to use colocation services where providers have access to more specialised cooling technology, resulting in greater PUE. It’s changes such as these that can have a big effect.
More than a buzzword Channel companies need to prioritise sustainability in a tangible and proactive way. It’s no good throwing sustainability around like a buzzword in the boardroom if no real action is being
taken.As
40 | April 2022
part of this, measurement is key. As a first port of call, having an accurate, detailed understanding of power use is extremely valuable in helping businesses control their energy use, understand implications of different deployment options, and choose how to rationalise declining systems. Having a mechanism that records data and highlights
where the major issues are will help inform business decisions and prioritise sustainability in a practical and manageable way. By taking the lead in this regard, vendors can empower partners to make real progress in the fight
against climate change at a micro-level and accelerate action. For example, at BT Group we recognise that our largest source
of carbon emissions today is associated with our fleet, which is a common contributor across businesses, including in the channel. To remove these emissions, we will need to replace ~29,000 vehicles with Electric Vehicles (EVs) - a non-trivial undertaking. At present, there is a lack of availability of charging points, and vehicle range and charging times are problematic for the larger and heavier vehicles. However, this represents a promising opportunity to achieve
industry sustainability ambitions. Prioritising electric vehicles in the industry is a clear and tangible way to reduce carbon emissions. Te channel must champion new coalitions, including the UK Electric Fleets Coalition that’s driving the transition to electric vehicles. Organisations should also partner for change with like-minded suppliers, customers, peers and government agencies to inspire wider climate action and solutions.
Seizing the opportunity It’s no secret that climate change has become a prominent issue for businesses worldwide, especially following COP26 in November, where talks emphasised the need for leaders to accelerate change. Sustainability isn’t just a trend; it is the only way to halt the damage that’s been done to the planet over the years, and everyone must play their part. Since the start of the pandemic, businesses in the channel have
navigated months of uncertainty and had a complete overhaul in how we work – the same level of willingness must now be shown towards sustainability. As the world looks to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, we have an opportunity to use our tech, innovation and influence to put climate action at the heart of the economic recovery.
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