The Environment Agency of England and Wales has signed an ITO contract with Capgemini that will aim to reduce IT carbon emissions by around 50 percent within the next few years.

It is widely accepted that IT usage globally contributes to two percent of the total carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to that usually attributed to aviation. For these reasons, the Environment Agency has contracted with Capgemini to ensure that this service can be reused by Government and other public sector organisations.

Further green measures will include reduction, reuse and recycling of hardware, while all disposals will be done under strict Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations. It is the first time that a comprehensive set of green measures has been formally set within a U.K. IT contract.

In designing a framework with environmental measures built in from the outset, such as equipment purchase, its delivery and use on the desk, through to its ultimate disposal, the total cost of IT purchase and operation should be reduced. The result is that public sector organisations and businesses can not only improve their environmental performance, but also can make long-term cost savings.

Graham Ledward, Director of Resources at the Environment Agency said: “This contract not only aims to exceed the Government’s sustainable IT targets, it also sets a high standard for environmental performance which we hope that other public sector organisations and businesses would wish to reflect.” Ledward continued, “The real message of success is that a green IT contract can be frugal, cost-effective and environmentally beneficial. The Environment Agency is not only reducing its carbon emissions, it’s also saving money in the long term. We will effectively do more for less.”