With the rise in demand for artificial intelligence and the proliferation of data center projects around the world, the environmental impact of data center facilities throughout their lifecycle has become an industry-wide priority. Although public debate often focuses on the electricity and water consumption of these essential infrastructures of the digital economy, Data4 and APL Data Center have carried out a comprehensive life cycle analysis that shows that the reality is much more complex than it seems.
This is revealed in the world’s first technical report carried out by both companies, which details the environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of a data center. By publishing the complete environmental profile of one of its 5 MW data centers, based on scientific reference methodology, Data4 takes a decisive step towards greater transparency and a more sustainable digital future, inviting the entire ecosystem to adopt more rigorous impact measurement.
Reduce the global footprint of digital technology
This exclusive study reveals that the main opportunities for action lie in aspects that were previously underestimated, such as the choice of construction materials or energy sources. Based on international standards ISO 14040 and 14044, the study measures the environmental footprint throughout the entire life cycle: from the extraction of raw materials to construction, operation and eventual dismantling, allowing each phase of the life cycle to be analyzed with a scientific and comparable approach.
The study results (excluding servers) are critical for the data center industry. They show that the production of equipment and materials (including concrete and steel) accounts for 39% of the carbon footprint over 20 years, which is almost as significant as the operation of the center itself (48%).
The analysis also reveals that the direct water consumption of the analyzed data center is minimal (less than 0.1%), and that the largest water impact is indirectly related to electricity production. This scientific data confirms Data4’s strategy: the choice of carbon-free energy, low-carbon design and cooling systems are the most effective levers to reduce the global footprint of digital technology.
More sustainable digital future
“This report reinforces a deep conviction: you can only improve what you understand and, therefore, what you measure comprehensively. As European leaders, it is our responsibility to move from a partial vision to a complete and scientific understanding of our impact,” said Linda Lescuyer, Director of Environment and Innovation at Data4.
“We publish this analysis with complete transparency, not only to guide our own ecodesign actions, but also to encourage the entire sector to go beyond the usual indicators. A sustainable digital future is not just a declaration of intent, but must be built, piece by piece, on a scientific basis. It is a call to collective action for the entire ecosystem,” says the director of Data4.
For Thomas Martin, Deputy Technical Director and Head of Sustainability and Innovation at APL Data Center: “The data center industry is facing an increasingly urgent need to control its environmental footprint. As experts in data centers, simulations and energy optimization, we know that it is essential to take a rigorous approach, incorporating life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon footprint, to identify effective measures. This work allows us to go beyond a declarative approach and put environmental performance at the center of design decisions, from a life cycle perspective. Taking this into account, alliances like the one we have with Data4 are crucial to pool our knowledge and work together to develop more sustainable and resilient infrastructures that can face the challenges of our time,” he concluded.
The data center industry faces a pressing need to control its environmental footprint
This White Paper is part of Data4’s “Data4Good” program, which has already implemented concrete measures based on a life-cycle vision, such as the use of low-carbon concrete, renewable energy contracts (PPAs) and the design of waterless cooling systems 25 times more efficient than the sector average.
