THE SUSTAINABILITY INTERVIEW
BUILDING A MORE SUSTAINABLE CLOUD
Data centers – AWS continually innovates its data center designs to increase efficiency. New data center components are projected to reduce mechanical energy consumption by up to 46 % and reduce embodied carbon in the concrete used by 35 %.
Silicon chip innovation – AWS has invested years designing custom silicon optimised for the cloud to deliver the best price performance.
Cloud infrastructure – AWS is also improving the sustainability of AI by making its cloud infrastructure more energy efficient, including by investing in AWS chips.
The AWS Future Fit Framework Translating this vision into action requires meeting customers where they are. To help customers understand where they are on their journey – and what to do next – AWS uses what Hilary calls the Future Fit Framework, structured across four levels. It provides a mental model for matching AWS support to different stages of ambition, different impact areas and different stakeholders across the business.
The first level focuses on sustainable IT: helping customers understand their emissions from running on AWS and architecting for sustainability as they build and grow in the cloud. This includes providing the foundations for
Circular economy principles – AWS embraces three circular economy principles for its server racks: design better, operate longer and recover more. In 2024, 11.5 million components were sold on the secondary market through AWS re: Cycle Reverse Logistics hubs, which sourced 16 % of spare parts from reuse inventory- abating 110,000 tons of carbon emissions by avoiding purchase of new parts.
Water progress – AWS is committed to being water positive by 2030 by increasing the use of more sustainable water sources, improving water use efficiency, reusing water and supporting water replenishment projects. aws. amazon. com