How NetApp Will Cut Emissions by 50% for Data Management

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NetApp pledges to cut emissions by 50% to improve data sustainability
NetApp commits to halve its Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030 after SBTi validation, as AI continues to drive significant data centre energy consumption

The rise of AI has created unprecedented demands on data centre infrastructure. 

Global electricity consumption from data centres currently reaches between 1-1.5% of global usage, which is largely driven by the computing requirements of AI and machine learning models.

Such a surge in power consumption has placed technology providers under pressure to reduce emissions while meeting growing demand for computing resources. As a result, industry analysts estimate data centre energy usage could double by 2030 without intervention.

NetApp

Against this backdrop, data storage and enterprise management firm NetApp has secured validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for plans to cut its emissions by 50%, as technology providers around the world seek to tackle rising energy demands.

NetApp targets scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions

NetApp is aiming to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions - those from direct operations and purchased energy - by 50.8% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline. The commitment expands upon the company’s 2022 environmental targets.

Additionally, the company has pledged to cut Scope 3 emissions - those from its value chain and product use - by 51.6% per petabyte shipped by 2030 from a 2023 base year.

“The economics of data are changing. As AI workloads get heavier, companies are creating and using data at an unprecedented rate that is only set to climb higher – and their energy costs are soaring in parallel,” says Nicola Acutt, Chief Sustainability Officer at NetApp.

NetApp CSO Nicola Acutt

The rise of AI applications has increased scrutiny of technology firms and their environmental impact, particularly as computing power requirements grow.

In response, SBTi provides independent verification of corporate emissions reduction targets. The organisation acts as a benchmark for measuring sustainability initiatives and has approved targets from more than 10,000 companies.

"As we enter 2025, the world is starting to align around accepted standards for measuring sustainability initiatives," says Nicola.

To mitigate emissions, NetApp will integrate environmental considerations into product development to address data management and energy efficiency. 

Nicola compares the challenge of maintaining business operations while implementing sustainability measures to “changing the tyres when your car is cruising down the highway,” but notes that “every once in a while, all the pieces align, and you get to pursue a goal that strengthens your company today and prepares it for tomorrow.”

She adds: “To reach our new SBTi targets, NetApp is going far beyond just reducing our own carbon footprint. We're explicitly aligning our product development roadmap with sustainable outcomes, making us the first company in our space to do so.”

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Big tech faces sustainability pressures 

Enterprise customers are now seeking sustainability solutions to manage rising data volumes while controlling energy costs. NetApp states that customer feedback drove its desire to offer enhanced environmental targets, with its approach combining environmental considerations with customer benefits.

The validation from SBTi arrives as data centres become more power-hungry than ever before to support emerging technologies. Worldwide, data centres are currently responsible for between 1-2% of total power consumption - a figure that could rise to as much as 9% by 2030.

“This kind of energy use isn't sustainable – not for companies' bottom lines and not for the planet,” Nicola says.

Key facts
  • 50.8% - NetApp's target reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from 2020 baseline
  • 51.6% - Target reduction in scope 3 emissions per petabytes shipped by 2030 from 2023 base
  • 10,000+ - Number of companies on SBTi's approved list

NetApp’s approach integrates environmental considerations with customer benefits. 

“This alignment means that customers can count on our innovations to help manage their most valuable assets – their data – and also to reduce their overall energy usage and costs. That's a compelling value proposition,” Nicola explains.

Writing on LinkedIn, Nicola emphasises the strategic importance of the validation: “The validation of our decarbonisation targets by an internationally recognised standard setter like SBTi lets customers know that we're a trusted vendor in their data supply chain. 

“It's a signal that we're committed to advancing sustainability not just today, but for the long term.”


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