Digital transformation has accelerated processes, connected people, and expanded companies’ capacity for innovation. However, alongside this progress, a challenge has emerged that until recently remained largely invisible: the carbon footprint of the digital world. 

Emails, video conferences, cloud systems, applications, websites, AI models—everything consumes energy, and a significant portion of that energy still comes from CO₂-emitting sources. Today, the digital ecosystem already accounts for more than 4% of global emissions, a figure that continues to grow rapidly with the expansion of large-scale computing. 

It is within this context that a new pillar of the ESG agenda emerges: digital decarbonization. 

What is digital decarbonization? 

Digital decarbonization refers to the set of practices, technologies, and strategies designed to reduce or eliminate carbon emissions associated with digital services, including: 

• Websites and web platforms
• Applications
• Enterprise systems
• Cloud storage and processing
• Artificial intelligence solutions
• Digital communication flows (email, videoconferencing, etc.) 

Contrary to what many people think, this is not just about using renewable energy. The impact is also shaped by technical decisions—such as image compression, code optimization, efficient caching, backend architecture, video size, and even the frame rate of a GIF. 

Every technical adjustment helps reduce energy consumption—and, consequently, CO₂ emissions. 

Why has this become urgent? 

Three key trends explain why this topic has become so important: 

1. Exponential growth of digital traffic 

More data, more AI, more automation. Processing volumes are growing at an unprecedented scale. 

2. Regulatory requirements and ESG pressure 

Companies are increasingly required to report detailed information about their emissions — classified into three categories: 

• Scope 1: direct emissions from company operations (such as fuel consumption).
• Scope 2: indirect emissions related to purchased energy.
• Scope 3: all other emissions across the value chain — including digital activities. 

And it is precisely within Scope 3 that digital activities fall — often making them the most complex emissions to measure. 

3. Clients and investors are becoming more conscious 

Sustainability has become a key driver of competitive advantage. Organizations are looking for partners who demonstrate real environmental responsibility — not just intentions. 

Digital Decarbonization in Practice: How to Reduce CO₂ Without Compromising Performance 

The digital carbon footprint is influenced by a range of technical decisions — often simple ones — that can make a significant difference in energy consumption. 

The Key practices include: 

• Image and video optimization, which can reduce emissions by up to 90% by decreasing file sizes and the volume of data transferred.
• Adjustments to visual elements, such as frame rates, making animations lighter without compromising the user experience.
• Code and back-end restructuring, resulting in more efficient systems with fewer unnecessary requests.
• Lean AI models, capable of performing the same tasks with less processing power and a lower environmental impact. 

These choices make digital environments more sustainable while also improving performance, reducing costs, and increasing efficiency. 

Qintess + Greenie Web: accelerating digital decarbonization through a strategic partnership 

To help companies address this challenge effectively, Qintess has established a strategic partnership with Greenie Web — a pioneering platform that measures, optimizes, and eliminates carbon emissions generated by websites, applications, and digital systems. 

This partnership enables: 

✔ Digital carbon footprint assessment 
Mapping every element that consumes energy across the company’s digital ecosystem. 

✔ Automated technical optimization 

✔ Image compression, video optimization, and improved back-end architecture 

The future of digital is sustainable! 

Companies that lead digital decarbonization today will be better prepared to: 

• Meet emissions regulations,
• Reduce operational costs,
• Improve system performance,
• Strengthen their ESG strategy,
• Innovate responsibly. 

Digital transformation has evolved. Now, it must also become a sustainable transformation. 

Start your digital decarbonization journey with Qintess 

If your company wants to reduce emissions, optimize its digital ecosystem, and prepare for future ESG demands, Qintess can help. 

Talk to our specialists and discover how to make your systems more efficient, sustainable, and ready to scale.