IT Going Green
IT has a pivotal role to play in the greening of the planet. That was the message of a conference today on "The Positive Impact of Information and Communications Technologies on the Environment and Climate" at the United Nations.
At least a couple hundred people gathered in one of the UN's imposing meeting rooms to talk about what is being done and what needs to be done to ensure we have a world worth turning over to our children and grandchildren. ComputerWorld editor Tom Hoffmann peppered a panel of environmental gurus from IBM, Xerox, EMC, Dell, HP, and the UN with questions about how to balance green practices with bottom-line profitability. Like most panels at events like this, all the panelists violently agreed with each other. But the comments were refreshingly candid. Customers most likely won't pay more for green products -- but that's no excuse for IT companies to let up on launching sustainable offerings. Companies won't embrace sustainable practices just because it's the right thing to do. The more realistic reason is that there is a proven link between sustainability and business efficiency.
Paper is not going away anytime soon, so let's not waste time talking about the paperless office. Instead, let's focus on waste reduction and recycling since paper accounts for massive amounts of landfill waste. So keep that blue bin tucked under your desk. Even the smallest actions can make a big difference and the IT industry seems to be taking its environmental responsibilities more seriously everyday.
Ed Gala
VP, Corporate Marketing
Xerox Corporation