HCLTech and Equinix join hands to bring one-stop solution for sustainable IT.
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the urgency for sustainability in IT has never been more pressing. With increasing global alignment to 1.5oC Paris Agreement goal, companies worldwide are striving to reduce their carbon footprints across all sectors. The IT industry, a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, faces the potential to account for 14% of total greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 if no proactive measures are implemented. Addressing this challenge is critical for achieving global sustainability targets, requiring comprehensive efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of IT infrastructure and operations.
The market for efficient and sustainable technology is experiencing remarkable growth and innovation, fueled by heightened environmental awareness, regulatory pressures and technological advancements. A significant trend is the growing adoption of renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric power. Environment America reported that renewables contributed 18% to total electricity generation in 2015, increasing to 24% in 2020 and 27% in 2022. This upward trajectory reflects a broader shift toward clean energy, positioning it as the new normal in the coming decade. Corporate renewable energy procurement is also accelerating, with companies purchasing a record 36.7 GW of clean power in 2023, a 12% increase from the previous year, according to BloombergNEF. This highlights the private sector's pivotal role in driving the transition to sustainable energy.
Reflecting the global shift towards sustainable practices, we observe that leading organizations are increasingly developing IT roadmaps that support their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets. This includes designing comprehensive IT transformation solutions that incorporate ESG protocols, embedding sustainability measures to minimize environmental impact and ensuring constant monitoring. Additionally, enhancing data center sustainability is crucial for meeting both voluntary reporting standards and regulatory compliance needs. To cater and address the market need, HCLTech stands one step ahead with defined and customized efficient solutions to support organizations in achieving their sustainability goals. HCLTech powered by Equinix offers comprehensive, technology-driven solutions for building a sustainable IT infrastructure. HCLTech and Equinix are leading their sustainability initiative enabling reduced carbon emissions and aligning sustainability with their business goals.
HCLTech and Equinix in synergy to add value to our clients.
HCLTech sustainable IT solutions
At HCLTech, our Sustainable IT solutions enable organizations to reduce the environmental footprint of their IT operations while boosting efficiency and reliability. Through our flagship offering, DecarbonizIT, we deliver real-time monitoring, baselining, and carbon analytics to help organizations minimize energy consumption, carbon emissions, and operational expenses. By providing year-on-year quantified reductions and committing measurable Green KPIs, we drive impactful sustainability across IT infrastructure and applications, supported by a comprehensive suite of services for sustainable IT transformation.
- Sustainable IT services: Our team conducts thorough assessments to identify the carbon emissions associated with IT infrastructure and operations. We then develop tailored strategies to mitigate these emissions, helping your organization reduce its carbon footprint. This includes optimizing server utilization, adopting energy-efficient hardware and leveraging cloud computing to decrease physical infrastructure needs.
- Carbon-neutral data center solutions: Data centers are critical to modern business operations but can be substantial energy consumers. We implement sustainable practices and cutting-edge technologies to enhance data center efficiency. Our solutions include advanced cooling systems, energy-efficient servers and renewable energy integration. By optimizing data center operations, we help minimize energy consumption and operational costs while boosting reliability and performance.
- IT product disposal: Proper disposal of outdated IT equipment is crucial for minimizing environmental impact. We facilitate responsible disposal and recycling of IT assets, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Our services encompass secure data destruction, refurbishment of reusable components and environmentally friendly recycling processes. This not only helps reduce electronic waste but also promotes a circular economy by extending the life cycle of IT products.
By integrating sustainability into every aspect of IT operations, HCLTech empowers organizations to achieve their environmental goals while maintaining top-tier performance and reliability.
Equinix’s sustainable infrastructure foundation
- Improving energy efficiency and optimizing PUE - Power Usage effectiveness through our energy efficiency center of excellence program, with global average PUE of 1.42 across all data centers
- With over 235 datrel="next"a centers worldwide powered by 100% renewable energy and a commitment to maintain full renewable coverage by 2030, we empower customers to achieve zero market-based emissions from energy use at these locations. Additionally, we have secured more than 1GW in renewable power purchase agreements.Investing in innovative technologies such as high-efficiency cooling methods, which includes direct-to-chip liquid cooling to enable advanced workloads like AI
- Implementing circular economy best practices for management of waste and other resources. For example, in 2023, we exported 4,000 MWh of excess heat generated by our customers’ servers to provide low-carbon heat to the communities where we operate
- Demonstrate transparency through publication of an annual Integrated Sustainability Report and offer customer Green Power Reports, which provide third-party-audited site-level energy, emissions and renewable energy coverage data to support customers’ reporting and compliance needs
- Equinix provides access to the largest ecosystems and marketplaces powered by sustainability leaders, with 10,000+ customers; 2,100+ networks; 3,000+ cloud and IT companies
- Decarbonizing our digital supply chain by engaging suppliers to set their own science-based emission reduction targets
What Customer challenges we can solve together, and the value add we bring.
HCLTech and Equinix are providers of industry leading solutions for their customers and when joined hands together, can deliver unique customized solutions catering to an end-to-end sustainable solution scoping the entire IT landscape.
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Customer challenge |
HCLTech benefits |
Equinix benefits |
| Unidentified and inconsistent emission sources |
HCLTech offers a tech enabled carbon accounting tool that aggregates data from diverse emission sources into a unified platform. It can create carbon baseline for the customer environment and generate reports as per global regulatory compliances such as GRI, SASB, ESRS, ISO 50001. This enables clients to comprehensively account for, assess and report their emissions consistently, ensuring accuracy and reliability across all data points. |
We certify our data centers to numerous sustainable energy management standards, ensuring they reflect sustainability best practices. Upon request, we can provide customers with an auditable and ISO-verified Green Power Report, which provides the electricity consumption, renewable energy coverage and carbon emissions of a company’s deployments at Equinix. This can be used to support their voluntary and compliance reporting needs. |
| Unclear roadmap and strategy | HCLTech provides a dedicated sustainability office equipped with expert green advisory services. This team collaborates with clients to develop clear, actionable roadmaps and strategies for achieving sustainability goals, ensuring alignment with best practices and industry standards. | At Equinix, customers can access a global infrastructure platform committed to climate neutrality and 100% renewable energy by 2030. More than 235 Equinix IBX data centers are already covered by 100% renewable energy, enabling customers to claim a reduction of associated market-based emissions from data center energy usage at those sites to zero – accelerating their progress toward climate goals such as net-zero. |
| Undefined outcome metrics | HCLTech excels in accounting and reporting emissions in compliance with global regulatory standards and frameworks such as GRI, SASB, ESRS, ISO 50001. This ensures clients with well-defined outcome metrics that are transparent, measurable and align with international sustainability benchmarks. | At Equinix, we ensure our reporting complies with global industry standards such as the GRI, ISSB, SASB and the GHG Protocol. |
| Multiple vendors for complete solution | HCLTech boasts an extensive green partner ecosystem that spans the entire value chain. This network provides clients with a seamless, integrated solution, reducing the complexity and inefficiency of managing multiple vendors while ensuring comprehensive sustainability support. | On Platform Equinix, customers gain the most efficient access to the largest ecosystem and marketplaces powered by sustainability leaders. Our ecosystem is full of like-minded partners who have a shared commitment to optimize both your digital and sustainability transformations. 80% of the Forbes Top 100 Digital Companies leverage Platform Equinix to implement their digital-first strategies sustainably. |
Awards and recognitions
HCLTech sustainability recognitions
- HCLTech recognized as ‘Leader’ in the Avasant radarviewTM: Tech-enabled Sustainability services 2023-24
- HCLTech recognized as ‘Leader’ in ISG Provider Lens Sustainability and ESG – Europe 2023 – Strategy and Enablement Services
- HCLTech recognized as ‘Leader’ in ISG Provider Lens Sustainability and ESG – US 2023 – Strategy and Enablement Services
- Received the highest ‘A’ rating from CDP for Supplier Engagement on Climate Change
Links for reference
- Avasant Radarview: Tech enabled Sustainability Services 2023-24
- Leader in ISG Provider Lens Sustainability and ESG – Europe 2023 – Strategy and Enablement Services
- Leader in ISG Provider Lens Sustainability and ESG – US 2023 – Strategy and Enablement Services
Equinix Sustainability Recognitions
- Recognized for global climate leadership among the top 2% of companies worldwide: CDP Climate Change A-Score 2022 & 2023.
- Attained global EcoVadis Silver Sustainability Certification (17’-24’)
- U.S. EPA Green Power Partner National Top 100 for 9 years running
- Named in TIME’s Most Sustainable Companies for 2024 as well as Sustainability Magazine’s 250 Most Sustainable companies list in 2024
- CDP Supplier Engagement Leader (‘21–’23)
- Ranked 1st among top 10 colocation providers in 20243 [citation: Dgtl Infra: “Top 10 Colocation Providers in 2024: Leading Companies”
