Earth Day 2025: industry leaders share their thoughts

Today, from the C-Suite to the data centre, organisations are under growing pressure to reduce waste, cut emissions, and adopt sustainable practices – not just for ESG goals, but to remain competitive in a market that increasingly values environmental responsibility.

Whether it's rethinking infrastructure, outsourcing to greener IaaS providers, or minimising e-waste, Earth Day is a call to action for every leader to prioritise long-term impact over short-term convenience.

Electronic Specifier has gathered some thoughts from industry leaders:

Richard Copeland, CEO, Leaseweb USA, said: “For leaders and decision-makers, keeping sustainability within operations and organisational core values as a focal point is imperative. Earth Day reminds every one of our shared responsibility to protect the planet, but it’s crucial that sustainable practices remain a priority year-round.

“Organisations can limit their carbon footprint through the right IaaS provider. Computing, storage, and networking are huge energy consumers and contribute negatively to the environment. However, with the right IaaS partner that works with sustainability in mind, companies can rest assured that their resource-heavy operations are being properly managed within energy-efficient environments.

“This Earth Day, I would encourage decision-makers to look under the hood of their IT operations and consider how partnering with a responsible IaaS provider can help them meet their sustainability goals without compromising capabilities, security, and/or performance.”

Kelly Becker, President, UK & Ireland, Belgium & Netherlands, Schneider Electric, comments: “The urgency of the current climate crisis demands immediate action, and everyone, from critical industries to consumers, has a part to play.   

“The benefits of environmentally conscious practices extend beyond our environment; our research suggests that 247,000 jobs could be created in the UK by businesses adopting clean energy technologies. By replacing processes reliant on fossil fuels with those that maximise the potential of renewable energy, we can move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Significant strides to cut emissions can also be made through the adoption of digital tools which monitor and optimise energy usage.   

“A circular economy is also essential for a sustainable future. By adopting end-to-end circularity through offer creation, product design, and manufacturing processes, businesses can give used material a second life. This Earth Day, we need to start turning ambition into action. Businesses can simultaneously protect our planet, create meaningful jobs, and drive economic growth.”

Roger Brulotte, CEO, Leaseweb Canada, said: “Today, the call for impactful decision-making surrounding an enterprise's environmental footprint has never been more necessary. A key focus area for decision-makers to consider is the selection of an IaaS provider that offloads storage, computing, and/or networking functions.

“By partnering with IaaS providers that provide the opportunity to outsource storage, computing, and/or networking, enterprises have access to energy-efficient and professionally managed data centres that enable them to lower onsite e-waste and carbon footprints while bolstering responsible resource consumption.

“Right now, we are witnessing a drastic rise in the demand for sustainable data centres as artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become widely utilised daily by both consumers and businesses. The only way that enterprises can responsibly leverage emerging technologies such as GenAI is through the careful consideration and selection of IaaS providers that prioritise sustainability as opposed to greenwashing. This Earth Day, I suggest all decision-makers reevaluate their sustainability initiatives to take their efforts one step further towards a safer future.”