Image from Techies Go Green
Think digital products don’t make a mess? Think again. Just because you can’t toss a website into a landfill doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Every scroll, tap, and autoplay video uses energy. Servers run around the clock, devices pull power nonstop, and when our gadgets break, most of them end up as e-waste.
Sustainable design isn’t just about packaging or tote bags anymore. It matters in the digital world too. Apps, websites, and anything with a screen all have a footprint. Digital sustainability means building things that are lighter, faster, and less demanding on the planet.
According to the Sustainable Web Manifesto, if the Internet were a country, it would be the fourth-largest polluter on Earth. Yikes. The good news is, designers and developers have the power to help. Writing clean code, selecting efficient design solutions, and considering the impact of every feature all add up. It’s not just smart. It’s responsible.
So next time you’re working on a site or app, take a moment and ask yourself if it could be simpler, quicker, or just a bit kinder to the planet. It’s not just about user experience. It’s about Earth experience too.