NetApp Commits to 50% Emissions Cut After SBTi Validation
The rise of AI has created new pressures on corporate sustainability targets, with data centres today accounting for 1-1.5% of total global electricity consumption. As a result, technology companies face growing scrutiny over their environmental impact as AI applications drive continued increases in computing power requirements.
Now, data storage solutions provider NetApp has secured validation from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its emissions reduction goals, as technology firms respond to mounting pressure over energy consumption from AI applications.
The California-headquartered company, which provides enterprise data management and storage infrastructure, has pledged to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.8% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline.
NetApp strengthens sustainability commitments as AI drives energy demand
The new targets represent an expansion of NetApp’s 2022 commitments, driven by increased customer focus on energy costs as computing demands rise. The company has also committed to reduce scope 3 emissions from the use of sold products by 51.6% per petabytes shipped by 2030 from a 2023 base year – those generated through a company’s value chain, including product use.
“The economics of data are changing. As AI workloads get heavier, companies are creating and using data at an unprecedented rate that is only set to climb higher – and their energy costs are soaring in parallel,” says Nicola Acutt, Chief Sustainability Officer at NetApp.
The SBTi, which provides independent validation of corporate emissions reduction targets, now has more than 10,000 companies on its approved list. The organisation acts as a global benchmark for measuring sustainability initiatives in the corporate sector.
Technology sector responds to sustainability pressures
The validation comes as the technology sector grapples with increasing scrutiny of its environmental impact. “As we enter 2025, the world is starting to align around accepted standards for measuring sustainability initiatives,” says Nicola.
She compares the challenge of maintaining business operations while implementing sustainability measures to “changing the tyres when your car is cruising down the highway,” but notes that “every once in a while, all the pieces align, and you get to pursue a goal that strengthens your company today and prepares it for tomorrow.”
The data storage firm plans to integrate sustainability considerations into its product development strategy – aimed at addressimng both data management requirements and energy efficiency improvements for customers.
“To reach our new SBTi targets, NetApp is going far beyond just reducing our own carbon footprint,” says Nicola. “We’re explicitly aligning our product development roadmap with sustainable outcomes, making us the first company in our space to do so.”
The validation arrives as technology companies face increased scrutiny over their environmental impact, particularly as artificial intelligence applications drive up energy consumption in data centres. Enterprise customers are seeking solutions that can manage growing data volumes while controlling energy costs.
Customer demand drives sustainability focus
NetApp reports that customer feedback has been instrumental in shaping its enhanced environmental targets. “This kind of energy use isn't sustainable – not for companies’ bottom lines and not for the planet,” Nicola says.
The company's approach integrates environmental considerations with customer benefits. “This alignment means that customers can count on our innovations to help manage their most valuable assets – their data – and also to reduce their overall energy usage and costs. That's a compelling value proposition.”
- 50.8% - NetApp's target reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from 2020 baseline
- 51.6% - Target reduction in scope 3 emissions per petabytes shipped by 2030 from 2023 base
- 10,000+ - Number of companies on SBTi's approved list
Writing on LinkedIn, Nicola emphasises the strategic importance of the validation: “To succeed in the long-term, businesses need to prioritise both innovation and resilience. That’s why I’m so pleased that the Science Based Targets initiative has validated NetApp’s emission reduction goals for scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.”
She adds: “The validation of our decarbonisation targets by an internationally recognised standard setter like SBTi lets customers know that we’re a trusted vendor in their data supply chain. It’s a signal that we're committed to advancing sustainability not just today, but for the long term.”
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