Carbon emissions from UK government IT fell 13% in 2024-25
Government IT emissions drop 13% as digital estate reporting improves
The UK government's IT-related carbon emissions fell to 294,654 tonnes of CO2e in 2024–25. This represents a 13% reduction from the previous year's total of 340,285 tonnes. The figures come from the latest Greening Government Commitments ICT annual report published by the Cabinet Office.
The report also shows improvements in waste handling. Less than 1% of government ICT waste went to landfill or incineration without energy recovery during the reporting period. The government's digital estate now includes more than 900,000 laptops across departments.
Emissions per full-time equivalent employee improved as well. The figure fell from 0.44 tonnes to 0.41 tonnes CO2e per FTE. However, the absolute footprint remains substantial at nearly 300,000 tonnes annually.
Emissions fall by 45,631 tonnes in one year
The year-on-year reduction amounts to 45,631 tonnes of CO2e. This continues a downward trend established in previous reporting periods. The 2023–24 annual report recorded a 9% reduction from the year before, suggesting consistent progress across consecutive cycles.
The main sources of ICT emissions have remained structurally similar. End-user devices, peripheral IT equipment, and data centres continue to account for the majority of the footprint. Consequently, reductions appear to come from improved procurement decisions, extended device lifecycles, and better asset management rather than wholesale changes to the digital estate's composition.
The government manages ICT across every department. This distributed structure means emissions arise from thousands of individual procurement decisions, refresh cycles, and disposal processes. Achieving coordinated reductions across such a fragmented landscape requires consistent policy application and central oversight.
The report emphasises waste handling alongside carbon emissions. Over 950 tonnes of IT waste were generated in 2024–25. Nevertheless, disposal performance met the government's target of keeping landfill and incineration rates below 1%.
Scope 3 emissions dominate the footprint
Most government ICT emissions fall under Scope 3. This means the environmental burden sits primarily in the supply chain rather than direct operational energy use. Manufacturing, logistics, and end-of-life processing generate the majority of emissions associated with government IT.
For businesses, this matters because Scope 3 emissions are harder to control. They depend on supplier standards, product design choices, repairability, and recycling infrastructure. Therefore, further reductions require collaboration with manufacturers and service providers rather than internal operational changes alone.
Public sector suppliers face increasing scrutiny on their own carbon reporting. PPN 06/21 already requires suppliers bidding for contracts above £5 million to publish a carbon reduction plan. As government departments work to cut their ICT emissions, they will likely expect suppliers to demonstrate credible decarbonisation trajectories and support longer product lifespans.
Extended hardware lifecycles reduce embodied emissions. A laptop used for five years instead of three spreads its manufacturing footprint across more years of service. Similarly, refurbishment and reuse programmes prevent functional equipment from becoming waste prematurely.
The government's performance on waste disposal suggests that infrastructure for responsible ICT disposal exists and functions effectively. Less than 1% reaching landfill or incineration without energy recovery indicates strong waste diversion practices. For SMEs managing their own IT refresh cycles, this sets a benchmark worth considering.
What the latest figures reveal
- Total ICT emissions in 2024–25 reached 294,654 tonnes CO2e, down from 340,285 tonnes the previous year.
- The reduction represents a 13% decline, equivalent to 45,631 tonnes CO2e removed from the annual footprint.
- Emissions per full-time equivalent employee fell from 0.44 tonnes to 0.41 tonnes CO2e.
- The government generated over 950 tonnes of IT waste during the reporting period.
- Less than 1% of ICT waste went to landfill or incineration without energy recovery.
- The digital estate includes more than 900,000 laptops across all departments.
- End-user devices, peripheral equipment, and data centres remain the largest emission sources.
Longer device lifespans and supplier standards drive change
The 13% reduction suggests that policy changes are translating into measurable outcomes. However, the scale of remaining emissions shows that ICT sustainability remains a significant operational challenge. Nearly 300,000 tonnes annually is a substantial footprint for a single sector of government operations.
Future reductions will likely require deeper supply-chain engagement. Manufacturers will need to design products for longer service lives, easier repair, and higher recyclability. Data centres will need to source renewable energy and improve cooling efficiency. Procurement teams will need to balance upfront cost against total lifecycle emissions.
Businesses supplying the public sector should pay attention to these trends. Government departments are demonstrably reducing their ICT emissions and tracking waste performance closely. Suppliers offering products with lower embodied carbon, longer warranties, and take-back schemes will align better with these priorities.
The report also highlights the importance of accurate measurement. You cannot manage what you do not measure. For SMEs, understanding the carbon footprint of your IT estate provides a baseline for improvement and helps identify where interventions will have the greatest effect.
Device refresh cycles present a key decision point. Replacing equipment before it reaches the end of its functional life wastes embodied carbon. Conversely, running outdated equipment may reduce productivity or increase security risks. Finding the right balance requires clear criteria based on performance needs rather than arbitrary time periods.
Recycling and refurbishment infrastructure matters as well. The government's ability to keep waste out of landfill depends on having reliable partners who can process equipment responsibly. For businesses, choosing suppliers and disposal partners with verified environmental credentials reduces risk and supports credible sustainability claims.
How these trends affect procurement and compliance
Public sector suppliers already face carbon reduction plan requirements under PPN 06/21. As government ICT emissions continue to fall, departments will expect suppliers to contribute to these reductions. This means demonstrating lower product footprints, supporting extended use, and providing end-of-life solutions.
For example, a supplier offering laptops with modular components that can be upgraded or replaced extends the device's useful life. This reduces the frequency of complete replacements and spreads embodied emissions across more years. Similarly, suppliers offering certified recycling or refurbishment programmes help departments meet waste reduction targets.
Tender evaluations increasingly include sustainability criteria. Businesses that can quantify the carbon footprint of their products and show credible reduction plans will score better. Those without this information risk losing competitive advantage as environmental performance becomes a standard evaluation factor.
The government's progress also signals broader market shifts. If the public sector can reduce ICT emissions by 13% in a single year, private sector organisations face similar expectations from investors, customers, and regulators. Therefore, the performance benchmarks established in government reporting will likely influence corporate sustainability standards.
Training and awareness play a role as well. Employees who understand the environmental impact of IT decisions make better choices about device use, maintenance, and disposal. Our SBS Academy training programmes help teams develop the skills needed to manage IT assets with sustainability in mind.
Small steps add up across distributed estates
The government's digital estate is vast and fragmented. Achieving coordinated reductions across hundreds of departments and thousands of employees requires consistent application of sustainability principles at every level. However, this also means that small improvements in procurement, maintenance, and disposal practices accumulate into significant aggregate reductions.
For SMEs, the lesson is that ICT sustainability does not require wholesale transformation. Extending device lifecycles by one year, choosing suppliers with lower carbon products, and ensuring responsible disposal already deliver measurable benefits. These actions also prepare businesses for future regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
Carbon reporting is becoming standard practice. Businesses that develop robust measurement systems now will find compliance easier as requirements expand. Furthermore, accurate data supports better decision-making about where to invest in emissions reductions for maximum effect.
The government's waste performance also demonstrates that circular economy principles work in practice. Keeping equipment in use longer, refurbishing where possible, and recycling responsibly prevents valuable materials from becoming waste. For businesses, adopting similar approaches reduces disposal costs and supports sustainability commitments.
Supply chain collaboration matters increasingly. A business cannot control the embodied carbon in products it purchases, but it can choose suppliers committed to reduction. As government departments tighten their sustainability criteria, suppliers throughout the chain will need to demonstrate credible environmental performance.
Our sustainable procurement support helps businesses identify lower-carbon alternatives and build supplier relationships that support long-term emissions reductions. This becomes particularly important for companies bidding on public sector contracts, where sustainability credentials now form part of the evaluation process.
Where to find detailed reporting and guidance
The full Greening Government Commitments ICT annual report provides detailed breakdowns of emissions sources, departmental performance, and methodology. It is published on the gov.uk website and offers valuable benchmarking data for organisations managing their own digital estates.
The government's ICT annual report includes emissions data by department and equipment category. This level of detail helps identify where reductions are most achievable and what interventions have proven effective.
For businesses seeking to improve their own ICT sustainability, the Greening Government Commitments programme offers broader context on public sector environmental performance. While focused on government operations, the principles and measurement approaches apply equally to private sector organisations.
The government's Digital Sustainability Alliance brings together departments to share best practices and coordinate reduction efforts. The insights from this collaboration inform procurement standards and operational guidelines that eventually influence wider market practices.
Our compliance support services help businesses navigate the growing requirements around carbon reporting and supply chain sustainability. As public and private sector expectations converge, having robust systems in place becomes essential for maintaining competitive position and meeting customer demands.