Fairbanks impact report 2023: Understanding and reducing our carbon footprint

At Fairbanks, we recognize that sustainability is not just about minimizing our own carbon footprint but also about understanding the broader impact of our services. That’s why we collaborated with ClimateSeed to conduct a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) measurement for 2023. Our latest impact report provides valuable insights into our emissions, helping us refine our sustainability strategy and take meaningful action.

Our total carbon footprint for 2023 was 249 tCO₂e (equal to the electricity consumption of 166 Europeans), with the most significant emissions coming from:

• Business travel (57 tCO₂e) – A substantial portion resulted from long-haul flights
• Purchased services (61 tCO₂e) – Primarily related to R&D activities
• Commuting (21 tCO₂e) – Employee travel to work, with 56% using cars
• Employee lunches (26 tCO₂e) – Food choices had a notable impact, with beef-based meals being the highest contributor.

While our direct impact remains relatively low compared to larger organizations, we recognize that our indirect impact, through the services we provide to customers, is significant. Given the complexity of measuring our footprint in this ecosystem, our priority is to improve data accuracy. By refining our footprint mapping, we can identify key areas for improvement and develop targeted strategies to reduce emissions more effectively.

Based on these insights, we are taking a structured approach to reducing our environmental footprint, focusing on:

• Enhancing data accuracy – Improving footprint measurement with more precise data points to better understand our impact
• Greener procurement practices – Optimizing IT material for energy efficiency and working with environmentally responsible suppliers
• Sustainable travel encouragement – Facilitating virtual collaboration and prioritizing lower-emission travel options
• Local produced food choices – Raising awareness about the climate impact of food and promoting local and plant-based options.

While these initiatives mark an important step forward, our journey toward sustainability is continuous. By measuring, analyzing, and optimizing our impact, we aim to contribute to a more sustainable future for open cloud technology and beyond.

Stay connected for updates on our progress and sustainability initiatives!