Logicalis report highlights CIOs' commitment to sustainability

Logicalis has released findings from its tenth annual CIO Report, revealing a significant trend towards sustainability among global chief information officers (CIOs). The report, which surveyed over 1,000 CIOs globally, indicates that 92 percent of CIOs are investing in sustainability initiatives or technologies this year.

In Australia, the commitment is even higher, with 94 percent of CIOs reporting increased investments in sustainability. These investments are driven by regulatory pressures (59 percent), employee expectations (51 percent), and customer attraction (46 percent). The emphasis on sustainability comes despite ongoing global economic uncertainty, highlighting the prioritisation of green initiatives by technology leaders.

According to the report, 96 percent of CIOs are already involved in their company's overall sustainability planning and target-setting. Additionally, 93 percent view information technology (IT) as crucial to achieving their organisation's environmental goals. A notable 90 percent of CIOs assess the sustainability credentials of new suppliers before engaging in business with them.

Bob Bailkoski, chief executive officer at Logicalis, emphasised the commercial necessity of investing in sustainability. "Investing in sustainability is not only the right thing to do, it's a commercial imperative for business. We know that a reduction in carbon and energy consumption also means lower costs, and with regulations on carbon reporting becoming more stringent, prioritising sustainability now will serve CIOs well later," he said.

Despite the positive trends, the report noted that challenges remain. Approximately 93 percent of CIOs face obstacles in achieving their environmental goals. Issues such as collecting data spread across the organisation (43 percent) and uncertainty about the digital estate's performance against environmental targets were highlighted as significant barriers.

Toby Alcock, chief technology officer at Logicalis, remarked on the pressures faced by CIOs in balancing innovation, costs, and carbon reduction. "CIOs globally continue to face pressure when it comes to prioritising innovation, balancing costs, and decreasing carbon output, but these priorities don't have to compete. With access to good data, CIOs should be able to find short and long-term gains, both environmentally and financially. Moreover, they are well-positioned to attract new customers who are looking to allocate their business to more sustainable suppliers," Alcock noted.

The involvement of IT in sustainability at a strategic level is seen as a critical factor for the success of these initiatives. The alignment ensures that necessary infrastructures and support systems are in place to meet sustainability targets effectively.

The Logicalis CIO Report underscores the integral role of CIOs and IT departments in driving sustainability within organisations. The focus on environmental initiatives is not only seen as beneficial for the planet but also as a method to reduce operational costs and meet increasingly stringent regulatory requirements.