What is Meta’s Blueprint for Sustainable Data Centres?

Meta, a prominent social technology company behind platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is advancing its sustainability initiatives to mitigate the environmental impact of its operations.

Meta's efforts have been recognised with its inclusion at number 4 in Data Centre Magazine’s Top 100 Data Centre Companies 2025, notably for its industry-leading sustainability strategy in its data centres.

As the digital landscape expands, the energy consumption of data infrastructure is a growing concern.

According to the International Energy Agency, data centres accounted for approximately 1.5% of global power use in 2024, a figure that highlights the importance of sustainable practices for major operators like Meta.

Pursuing net zero emissions

At the heart of Meta's environmental strategy is a commitment to achieve net zero emissions across its value chain and become water positive by 2030. Meta has set a target to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2031 from a 2021 baseline.

It also aims to ensure its baseline Scope 3 emissions do not increase by the end of 2031. As of 2024, Meta has supported wind and solar projects that are contributing over 15GW of renewable energy to power grids globally.

To reach net zero, Meta is focusing on improving access to new technologies, including innovative construction materials, clean energy sources and low-carbon fuels. It is also actively engaging with suppliers to encourage decarbonisation throughout its supply chain.

Leslie Collins, Global Head of Sustainability at Meta, says: “Our sustainability team’s mission is to build safe and resilient communities in our global supply chain, enable water stewardship in our operations and the watersheds where we operate, and comply with applicable regulations and commitments. We look to achieve our mission by harnessing our collective effort to create positive impact, operating with purpose and responsibility, and fostering a more sustainable future for all.”

AI-optimised data centre design

Artificial intelligence is a cornerstone of Meta's strategy, not just for its products but also for enhancing the sustainability of its infrastructure.

Meta utilises AI across the entire lifecycle of its data centres to inform more sustainable designs, operations and processes. Its latest data centre designs are more space-efficient, delivering similar capacity in a smaller footprint, which could reduce both costs and construction timelines.

In 2024, Meta reported that 91% of its owned data centre construction waste was diverted from landfills and its facilities’ electricity consumption was fully matched with clean and renewable energy.

This approach to sustainable construction and operation has resulted in 100% of Meta’s data centre buildings achieving LEED Gold certification.

Rachel Peterson, Vice President, Data Centres at Meta, said on LinkedIn: “Beyond these efforts, we continue to look for innovative ways to manage the environmental footprint of our data centres. We’ve developed AI-optimised formulas to develop low-carbon concrete for our data centre construction and advanced mass timber pilots as well. I’m proud of our team’s work to advance these milestones for our business.”

A focus on water stewardship

In 2021, Meta established a goal to become water positive by 2030, meaning it will restore more water than it consumes. Given that data centres are responsible for most of Meta's water usage, operational efficiency is a primary focus.

Initiatives include using drought-resistant plants for landscaping and installing water-saving technologies inside its facilities.

To improve long-term resilience, Meta employs digital twin models of its cooling systems. This technology allows Meta to generate precise estimates of water usage, which aids in accurate capacity planning and helps ensure regulatory compliance.

“Since 2017, we have been actively involved in more than 30 water restoration projects – including conservation projects that protect wildlife, water quality projects that reduce pollution, and sanitation projects that support access to safe and affordable drinking water,” Leslie explains

Leslie adds: “Water is a vital resource, and we believe that through corporate investment, cross-industry alliances, and long-term NGO partnerships, we can help solve shared water challenges.”