{"id":11819,"date":"2024-10-08T17:38:21","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T15:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svaerm.com\/?page_id=11819"},"modified":"2026-04-29T17:23:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:23:31","slug":"sustainable-website","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/svaerm.com\/en\/services\/sustainable-website\/","title":{"rendered":"Eco-friendly web design: How to create a sustainable website"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Eco-friendly web design acknowledges that digital technologies and the internet can have a harmful side to them for people and the planet. In this article, we summarize the concept of a sustainable website, explain its intuition and share actionable recommendations to make your webpages more sustainable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a sustainable website?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable websites are designed with the future of people<\/strong>, our planet<\/strong> and profit<\/strong> in mind. They run on renewable energy and consume the least amount of it. In addition, they are ethical, value-adding and non-exploitative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should websites be sustainable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to the report \u201cLean ICT: Toward Digital Sobriety<\/a>\u201d from The Shift Project, the internet and digital technology caused 3.7% of GHG emissions in 2018<\/strong> \u2013 which is comparable to the global airplane industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it has become common practice that the media, as well as users on social media, rip on politicians for their domestic flights, not a whole lot of attention is brought to the environmental impact of the internet \u2013 despite its rapid growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The research predicted that the 3.7% from 2018 will double by 2025<\/strong>. However, the figure is likely going to more than double, as COVID is further accelerating digitization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why we need eco-friendly websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristics of a sustainable website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As defined in the Sustainable Web Manifesto<\/strong><\/a>, a sustainable website should have the following characteristics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Clean<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Efficient<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Open<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Honest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Regenerative<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Resilient<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    To understand how these characteristics can make a website more sustainable, let us challenge the Manifesto a little by plotting them against another framework, the Sustainability Triangle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Sustainability Triangle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Sustainability is about \u201cmeet[ing] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs\u201d (Brundtland, 1987). It has three pillars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Economic (profits)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Environmental (planet)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Social (people)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Together, these pillars form the Sustainability Triangle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Validating the Sustainable Web Manifesto<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      The characteristics in the Sustainable Web Manifesto form a robust framework because they are targeted<\/strong> and exhaustive<\/strong>. They are each catering to at least 1 pillar of the Sustainability Triangle, and each pillar is getting addressed by at least 2 commitments in the Manifesto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Clean<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      Commitment<\/strong><\/td>\u201cThe services we provide and services we use will be powered by renewable energy.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
      Pillar<\/strong><\/td>Environmental<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      2. Efficient<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      Commitment<\/strong><\/td>\u201cThe products and services we provide will use the least amount of energy and material resources possible.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
      Pillars<\/strong><\/td>Economic, environmental<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      3. Open<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      Commitment<\/strong><\/td>\u201cThe products and services we provide will be accessible, allow for the open exchange of information, and allow users to control their data.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
      Pillar<\/strong><\/td>Social<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      4. Honest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      Commitment<\/strong><\/td>\u201cThe products and services we provide will not mislead or exploit users in their design or content.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
      Pillar<\/strong><\/td>Social<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      5. Regenerative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      Commitment<\/strong><\/td>\u201cThe products and services we provide will support an economy that nourishes people and planet.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
      Pillars<\/strong><\/td>Economic, environmental, social<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      6. Resilient<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
      Commitment<\/strong><\/td>\u201cThe products and services we provide will function in the times and places where people need them most.\u201d<\/td><\/tr>
      Pillar<\/strong><\/td>Social<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      How to measure the GHG emissions of your website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Sustainability is difficult to measure and compare. One way of quantifying the sustainability of your website is by looking at greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Greenhouse gas emissions only express how clean<\/strong> (1.) and efficient<\/strong> (2.) your website is. They cannot assess the other characteristics defined in the Sustainable Web Manifesto, which are more qualitative and strategic in nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can use the following calculator to estimate the GHG emissions of your homepage: Website Carbon Calculator<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      While the calculator provides actionable data, you need to consider the following limitations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n