Environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives continue to keep companies busy in 2023—and IT innovations and operational efficiencies are becoming essential components for any business that aims to meet ESG objectives.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for companies to incorporate ESG strategies into their business plans. That said, the technology sector plays a significant and multifaceted role in the ESG movement by enabling companies to integrate ESG into their operations and streamline their processes and reporting methods.
In Involta’s recent ESG report, we discuss our commitment to incorporating ESG principles into our business and to establishing, tracking and reporting our performance.
Involta and ESG
Here are some ways Involta drives our mission as a sustainable leader in the technology industry.
Environmental: minimizing our footprint
Because our environmental footprint as a data center operator is largely centered around electricity use, it was critical that we take the necessary steps to be responsible energy consumers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
As a result, we use renewable energy whenever possible, monitoring and measuring the amounts and types of energy used at each of our data centers.
To reduce the requirement for water use, we ensure the use of closed-loop water, free-cooling and refrigerant-based cooling technologies in our data center facilities (not to mention responsibly disposing of hazardous and e-waste materials).
Tech tip: For technology companies looking to improve their environmental impact, consider benchmarking your current footprint and setting goals for incremental improvements to reduce energy consumption, water use, GHG emissions and more.
Social: caring for our people
Every day, our employees work toward a shared goal of making a difference in how people think about technology. In turn, Involta cares for our team by targeting significant ESG improvements for a workplace that promotes a tolerant, diversified and healthy culture.
We do this by offering competitive benefits, allowing flexible schedules, and engaging with our team through regular update meetings, outings, and holiday parties. We also promote safety, health and wellness in the workplace by complying with safety regulations through the use of proper tools and practices.
We care, and our employee engagement survey shows strong trust in our leadership and company.
Tech tip: For technology companies looking to improve their social impact, consider performing annual employee engagement surveys (along with a careful analysis of the results) to identify areas for improvement—whether it involves DEI initiatives, safety and health, more flexible work schedules, community engagement or otherwise.
Governance: building a strong foundation
As a data center operator, there are several elements that are vital to good governance and sound business practices:
- Quality, reliability and business continuity
- Cybersecurity and privacy
- Business ethics and anti-corruption
- Respecting human rights
- Supply chain management
In order to meet ESG commitments, Involta takes steps to prioritize each and every one of these elements.
For example, unexpected events can still occur despite strict preventive maintenance procedures and measures. Because of this, we provide clients with Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery services to aid in recovery efforts when an unanticipated IT service disruption happens. We also keep an Information Security Governance Program in place that consists of an overarching Information Security Policy, associated procedures and a risk assessment process to protect information assets and systems.
We also have a vendor management procedure that addresses supplier expectations, conduct and the annual exchange of information. We are also strategic in the partners we select.
Take VMware, for example—a Cloud Verified partner we have been working with for many years And, as a recent update, we are proud to announce that we have taken the steps to become a VMware Zero Carbon Committed (ZCC) provider. This designation supports our efforts toward increased sustainability in the data center space through renewable energy procurement and other carbon offset reduction programs.
Tech tip: For technology companies looking to promote good governance practices, consider adopting and implementing measures such as disaster recovery services, cybersecurity certifications, conflict of interest policies and employee handbooks that clearly state your commitment to respecting human rights.
Learn more about Involta’s commitment to ESG
Even before ESG made it into the mainstream, Involta has been incorporating its core principles into the foundation of our business and strategically selecting our partners.
Read the full 2022 ESG Report to learn more about Involta’s ESG initiatives.
