At a time where digital and print communications are in constant motion, it’s easy to overlook their environmental impact. But what if I told you that the internet’s carbon footprint accounted for 3.7% of global emissions in 2020 – the same as the airline industry? And that by next year, communications tech will be one of the biggest emitters globally, second only to China, India, and the US?
The weight of digital design is often invisible, but its impact is real. Consider this: one high-resolution image can be 100s of times larger than a properly optimised version. An uncompressed file means more data, more energy use, and more emissions.
We need to raise awareness about digital sustainability. It’s about:
- Being conscious of the resources required to create, present, and deliver design and communication materials.
- Sharing information in ways that use resources as efficiently as possible.
- Considering the impact of design decisions, from physical to digital assets.
- Adapting as technology evolves to make smarter, lower-impact and low carbon choices.
- Creating designs that stand the test of time and Ensuring websites and apps are streamlined, accessible, and easy to navigate.
- Making design as inclusive as possible, reaching the widest audience with minimal waste.
At Oxygen, we’re committed to integrating sustainability into everything we create. We test and optimise our digital outputs using tools like Website Carbon, Ecograder, and Google Page Speed. We make mindful choices in print, using carbon footprint calculators like Re-nourish. And we continuously challenge ourselves to design with purpose, reducing excess and prioritising efficiency.
Here’s how we’re making a difference:
- Limiting images, or no images at all on webpages
- Compressing files and images
- Offering plain text alternatives
- Optimising websites
- Using business cards made from cotton
- Reducing ink-usage
- Choosing green hosting
- Creating a Guide to Sustainable Communcations, which you can sign up to download here.
Want to explore how sustainable design can transform your communications? Reach out to us at hello@designedbyoxygen.com
Or read about our Website Sustainability Audit service
