Most channel businesses do not seem to have thought enough about improving the environment, according to beancounters at DataSolutions.
The IT and security solutions distributor has announced the results of the UK’s first study designed to uncover the sustainability of the UK IT channel. Between June and August, the firm quizzed 134 UK channel partners and over 244 UK end-user IT decision-makers on their organisations’ approach to sustainability.
It found that more than 60 percent of channel businesses have not set net-zero or carbon-neutral goals.
Most worked for companies that are actively pursuing both an ESG strategy and carbon reduction plan. For example, 60 percent of channel respondents said their organisation already has an ESG strategy in place, compared with 63 percent of end-user decision-makers.
An even higher proportion said their companies harbour “firm plans” to reduce their emissions. However, the survey found that only 37 percent of the channel and 34 percent of end-users have gone a step further and set a carbon-neutral or net-zero goal.
DataSolutions Group Managing Director Michael O’Hara said the channel needed to play an active part in slowing Climate Change down.
“I urge the channel to lead from the front on sustainability before it’s too late – before your hand is forced”, he said.
O’Hara warned that businesses looking to make their operations more sustainable and achieve net-zero can get “paralysed into inaction” due to the sheer amount of information and negative commentary around climate change.
“It is not easy to produce a plan, and the reality is that it will take years for the vast majority of businesses to achieve Net-Zero. However, the answer is continuing education to build awareness and training geared towards companies. This will help a lot of organisations to get started and establish a strategy.”
The research shows that sustainability will be an essential driver for IT decision-makers selecting suppliers as price, performance, and cost savings. Currently, it ranks a distant fourth, DataSolutions said.
The report also revealed that sees significant growth post-Covid growth opportunities related to sustainability. When asked whether they regarded sustainability as key to the post-pandemic recovery, 47 percent of the channel and 57 percent of end-users said they did.
