AWS, Google, Meta, and Microsoft spearhead push for Environmental Product Declarations as AI boom threatens climate goals
In an unprecedented move driven by the surge in AI workloads, some of the world’s largest technology companies have issued a joint call to action, urging their data centre suppliers to provide detailed environmental impact data for their products and materials.
The open letter, released under the iMasons Climate Accord (ICA) banner, highlights the growing urgency to address embodied carbon emissions in digital infrastructure as artificial intelligence workloads surge.
Amazon Web Services, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Schneider Electric are among the signatories of this industry-shaping initiative. These tech giants, which operate millions of servers in their data centres worldwide, are pushing for greater adoption of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) throughout their supply chains.
The letter emphasises that EPDs, often likened to nutrition labels for materials, are “critical tools” in measuring digital infrastructure’s greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. As AI development and deployment accelerate, the embodied emissions from manufacturing and transporting data centre equipment are becoming an increasingly significant portion of these companies’ overall carbon footprints.
“The digital infrastructure industry needs their vendors to publish more EPDs for materials and equipment used to construct and operate the data centre in a climate-aware manner,” the letter states. This call for transparency comes as tech companies face pressure from regulators, customers, and investors to deliver on ambitious climate commitments.
The ICA members are advocating for three key actions from their suppliers:
- Create Type III, ISO- or EN-verified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for their products, ensuring adherence to common Product Category Rules.
- Disseminate these EPDs in common third-party databases like EC3 and OpenLCA.
- Align EPD data exchanges with existing standards such as eclass and ISO 22057.
Joe Kava, VP of Global Data Centres at Google, underscored the importance of this effort: “In line with our commitment to open standards and our company-wide goal to achieve net-zero emissions, we support industry-wide adoption of Environmental Product Declarations as a crucial lever in low-carbon procurement of digital infrastructure.”
This push for EPDs reflects a growing recognition that Scope 3 emissions in a company’s value chain often dwarf direct operational emissions for tech firms. As AI models grow larger and more complex, the energy and hardware demands are skyrocketing, potentially jeopardising climate targets if left unchecked.
Lex Coors, chief data centre technology & engineering officer for Digital Realty and Infrastructure Masons Governing Body member, said: “As leaders in the digital infrastructure sector, we recognise the urgent need to address all facets of our carbon footprint, particularly Scope 3 emissions which constitute a significant portion of our environmental impact. By advocating for adopting EPDs, we are taking a decisive step towards empowering the entire industry to make informed, responsible choices.”
For context, hyperscalers have implemented strategies to reduce and/or mitigate Scope 1 and 2 emissions, according to a statement. As they seek to reach net-zero carbon emissions in the coming years, the next piece of the sustainability puzzle lies in reducing Scope 3 emissions, representing anywhere from 38-69% of data centres’ total carbon footprint. “The company itself does not produce scope 3 emissions; rather, they include the indirect emissions throughout the value chain,” the statement reads.
The letter points out the lack of readily available EPDs hamper the industry’s ability to procure lower-carbon materials and equipment. It also complicates accurate reporting to key stakeholders, including regulators, which could put contracts with certain customer groups at risk.
By taking these actions, the tech giants argue that their supply chain vendors will “improve the transparency of digital infrastructure embodied emissions, support our GHG estimation and reporting, and help ensure we are positioned to meet our climate goals via more informed green procurement as we develop the digital infrastructure of the future”.
This initiative marks a significant shift in how the tech industry approaches its environmental impact. Traditionally, the focus has been on operational efficiency and renewable energy procurement. With the AI boom driving unprecedented demand for computing power, attention is turning to the often-overlooked embodied emissions of hardware and infrastructure.
The move also highlights the complex challenge of decarbonising the AI sector. While AI can potentially drive significant advancements in climate solutions, its carbon footprint is a growing concern. By pushing for greater transparency and accountability in their supply chains, these tech leaders are proactively addressing this paradox.
Overall, Industry experts suggest that this call for EPDs could have far-reaching effects beyond the signatories’ immediate supply chains. As smaller tech companies and data centre operators follow suit, it could create a ripple effect, driving a new standard of environmental transparency across the entire digital infrastructure sector.
The success of this data centre initiative will largely depend on the supply chain’s responsiveness and vendors’ ability to provide accurate, standardised environmental data. However, with the collective purchasing power of these tech giants behind it, the letter sends a clear signal that environmental considerations are now a top priority in procurement decisions.
As the AI revolution continues to reshape the digital landscape, this push for carbon transparency in the supply chain may prove to be a crucial step in ensuring that AI’s benefits don’t come at the cost of climate progress. The tech industry’s ability to balance innovation with sustainability will likely be a defining challenge in the future.
