The Carbon Cost of Keeping Everything: Time to Hit Delete
Hidden carbon footprint of old digital files and server storage
There’s a quiet, often-overlooked lever in digital sustainability: data retention.
We tend to focus on packaging, travel, or supply chains when talking about carbon footprints. But every stale document, legacy codebase, or dusty video sitting on a server is quietly drawing power, often from fossil-heavy grids. It’s the digital version of leaving the lights on in a room no one’s used in years.
So what governs this?
Not much.
Under GDPR Article 5(e), personal data shouldn’t be stored “longer than necessary” but that’s privacy-driven, not emissions-driven.
And in Australia, the ACCC’s Green Claims Code warns against broad, unqualified sustainability claims like “eco-friendly” unless backed by evidence.
That means if your platform claims to be “green” but hoards 10 years of untouched customer data, you might be edging toward greenwashing. The ACCC’s stance is crystal: if it’s not measured, managed, and made clear --> it's misleading.
What’s actually happening?
Some companies are quietly adjusting. Meta, for example, now deletes old live videos beyond a threshold. Not for climate policy but for efficiency. Still, the impact is real.
Voluntary guidance is catching up. The Green Software Foundation is building principles to help software teams track emissions in design choices. But compliance isn't here yet. This remains a leadership opportunity.
As we say in the Business Sustainability First Principles, not all wins need to be marketed. Sometimes the smartest sustainability move is just to govern better and delete.
Learn more, take action:
🟢 Get certified in Green Digital Skills (by INCO)
🟢 Sign up for the Business Sustainability Accelerator
📎 Inspired by this? Start a 90-day clean-up sprint. Even a 10% server trim can cut emissions and cost.
