Your Commitment to Operationalizing Sustainability Transparency, and Local Impact

Growing digital infrastructure creates wide-ranging challenges

The rapid expansion of digitalization and the digital economy is reshaping our world. This expansion has led to a significant increase in demand for digital infrastructure. However, the market for digital infrastructure is highly concentrated and increasing the demand is absorbed by a handful of actors.

At Leitmotiv, we believe the economic opportunities from the expansion of infrastructure created should be accessible to all. And we believe the market should be shaped in a way that sustainability, transparency, and local impact of the businesses providing infrastructure and services are rewarded. This creates incentives for providers to implement balanced practices that prioritize environmental impact reduction as well as social benefit.

By committing to the SDIA program, providers and purchasers, as well as other market actors, enable a transformation of the digital infrastructure market using a values-based approach, grounded in sustainability, transparency, and local impact – ensuring that the growth of digital infrastructure benefits businesses, society, and our planet equally.

Values matter

As digital infrastructure is rapidly expanding, both society and businesses who utilize IT are expecting more than technical excellence. They demand environmental responsibility, operational transparency, and a positive contribution to the local economy from the providers they choose to do business with.

01

Customers who implement the SDIA program values in their purchasing decisions give a clear signal to the market that they expect more.

02

Providers who respond to these requirements by bringing the values into their business and operational practices can compete and differentiate themselves in a value-based digital infrastructure market.

Your commitment is the starting point

With the SDIA program, we enable providers and purchasers to operationalize these values –transforming aspirational goals into tangible actions and measurable outcomes. It starts with commitment, but requires concrete implementation which we support with our platform, knowledge-sharing and advocacy.

01.

A clear strategy to operationalize values in purchasing, operations and business practices

  • Establishing measurable goals on environmental impact.
  • Integrating sustainability and transparency into operations, purchasing and decision-making processes.
  • Creating requirements and actions to ensure local value creation of digital infrastructure.

02.

Transparently showcasing actions and progress

  • Demanding and publishing regular sustainability reports and updates on sustainability indicators to ensure transparency & accountability.
  • Communicating with stakeholders (customers, policymakers, suppliers and others) through open dialogue, sharing success stories and challenges, and planned actions to address gaps.
  • Open to be held accountable for the sustainability of infrastructure used and provided.

03.

Ensuring actions that create positive impact in the local communities

  • Supporting regional economies, workforce development, education, and community infrastructure through purchasing and business practices.
  • Strengthening local supply chains and building partnerships that benefit the areas where the infrastructure is located.

Through these commitments, providers as well as buyers of IT & Cloud infrastructure and services can establish accountability, drive meaningful change, and demonstrate leadership in building sustainable digital infrastructure that powers the digital transformation and digital economy.

Every quarter, we send out surveys to commitment letter signatories to track how our values are being operationalized and monitor the progress of the SDIA program.

Purchasers
Providers

Principles for Purchasers

Transparency and Reporting

01.

Understand the environmental impact of your digital infrastructure—both owned and outsourced—and educate your procurement and IT teams accordingly.

  • Measure and understand the environmental impact of your digital infrastructure. Proactively educate both your IT and procurement teams about the sustainability impacts of own and third-party digital infrastructure.

02.

Demand transparency from your IT and digital infrastructure supply chain to get the data you need for your own reporting.

  • Work with your suppliers to obtain regular and detailed environmental impact data for all IT services and infrastructure you purchase. This transparency is crucial for accurate sustainability reporting, accountability and helps identify areas for improvement.
  • Use standardized reporting formats (and facilitate their creation if lacking standards) to ensure consistency in your data collection (see our Sustainability Indicators).

03.

Account for your IT and digital infrastructure environmental impact in your own sustainability reporting.

  • Include digital infrastructure in your organization's sustainability reports and integrate reduction of its environmental impact into your sustainability goals. This means:
    • Measuring and tracking energy consumption of your IT infrastructure and the share of renewable/non-renewable energy.
    • Measuring and tracking the amount of materials, electronic waste and other materiality aspects within digital infrastructure – from buildings to ICT equipment.
    • Calculating associated GHG emissions and climate impact – both from non-renewable energy use as well as use of materials.
    • Setting specific reduction goals for IT and digital infrastructure usage or environmental impact in the organization.
    • Regularly reviewing and updating progress as part of the sustainability report.
  • Consider both direct impacts (owned infrastructure) and indirect impacts (cloud services, data centers) in your reporting scope. Depending on your size and location this may required as part of the EU CSRD.

Procurement Strategy

04.

Include local impact as a key factor in your purchasing decisions and award criteria.

  • When selecting IT and cloud infrastructure providers, evaluate their local impact. Prioritize providers who demonstrate positive contributions to their communities.
  • Local impact refers to creating environmental, social, and economic benefits for communities where providers operate—including tax contribution, job creation, educational initiatives, energy system integration, and meaningful engagement with local communities and governments.

05.

Include sustainability as a key factor in your purchasing decisions and award criteria.

  • Prioritize suppliers who demonstrate strong environmental practices, responsible energy use, and commitment to reducing their sustainability impact through measurable targets and actions.

06.

Collaborate with suppliers on long-term plans to address the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.

  • Engage with your suppliers to develop long-term plans to address and reduce environmental impact of IT and digital infrastructure.

07.

Make the criteria for purchasing digital infrastructure public, so that you are actively shaping the market.

  • Create and publish criteria for purchasing digital infrastructure that embed core values—sustainability, transparency, and local impact. You can use our criteria database as a resource.

Sustainability Strategy

08.

Work with your IT teams to develop a comprehensive digital infrastructure sustainability strategy.

  • Create a comprehensive plan for using digital and IT infrastructure that minimizes environmental impact and conserves resources.
  • Integrate purchasing criteria into your technical selection and design processes.
  • If possible: Establish a sustainability role focused on IT and digital infrastructure.

Community Engagement

09.

Engage actively with the community to foster progress.

  • Share your criteria and requirements at SDIA events.
  • Share your lessons learned, best practices, and challenges with the SDIA community.
  • Create awareness about your requirements for future digital and IT infrastructure.
  • Support progress tracking by completing the SDIA survey quarterly.
Purchasers
Providers

Principles for Purchasers

Transparency and Reporting

01.

Understand the environmental impact of your digital infrastructure—both owned and outsourced—and educate your procurement and IT teams accordingly.

  • Measure and understand the environmental impact of your digital infrastructure. Proactively educate both your IT and procurement teams about the sustainability impacts of own and third-party digital infrastructure.

02.

Demand transparency from your IT and digital infrastructure supply chain to get the data you need for your own reporting.

  • Work with your suppliers to obtain regular and detailed environmental impact data for all IT services and infrastructure you purchase. This transparency is crucial for accurate sustainability reporting, accountability and helps identify areas for improvement.
  • Use standardized reporting formats (and facilitate their creation if lacking standards) to ensure consistency in your data collection (see our Sustainability Indicators).

03.

Account for your IT and digital infrastructure environmental impact in your own sustainability reporting.

  • Include digital infrastructure in your organization's sustainability reports and integrate reduction of its environmental impact into your sustainability goals. This means:
    • Measuring and tracking energy consumption of your IT infrastructure and the share of renewable/non-renewable energy.
    • Measuring and tracking the amount of materials, electronic waste and other materiality aspects within digital infrastructure – from buildings to ICT equipment.
    • Calculating associated GHG emissions and climate impact – both from non-renewable energy use as well as use of materials.
    • Setting specific reduction goals for IT and digital infrastructure usage or environmental impact in the organization.
    • Regularly reviewing and updating progress as part of the sustainability report.
  • Consider both direct impacts (owned infrastructure) and indirect impacts (cloud services, data centers) in your reporting scope. Depending on your size and location this may required as part of the EU CSRD.

Procurement Strategy

04.

Include local impact as a key factor in your purchasing decisions and award criteria.

  • When selecting IT and cloud infrastructure providers, evaluate their local impact. Prioritize providers who demonstrate positive contributions to their communities.
  • Local impact refers to creating environmental, social, and economic benefits for communities where providers operate—including tax contribution, job creation, educational initiatives, energy system integration, and meaningful engagement with local communities and governments.

05.

Include sustainability as a key factor in your purchasing decisions and award criteria.

  • Prioritize suppliers who demonstrate strong environmental practices, responsible energy use, and commitment to reducing their sustainability impact through measurable targets and actions.

06.

Collaborate with suppliers on long-term plans to address the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.

  • Engage with your suppliers to develop long-term plans to address and reduce environmental impact of IT and digital infrastructure.

07.

Make the criteria for purchasing digital infrastructure public, so that you are actively shaping the market.

  • Create and publish criteria for purchasing digital infrastructure that embed core values—sustainability, transparency, and local impact. You can use our criteria database as a resource.

Sustainability Strategy

08.

Work with your IT teams to develop a comprehensive digital infrastructure sustainability strategy.

  • Create a comprehensive plan for using digital and IT infrastructure that minimizes environmental impact and conserves resources.
  • Integrate purchasing criteria into your technical selection and design processes.
  • If possible: Establish a sustainability role focused on IT and digital infrastructure.

Community Engagement

09.

Engage actively with the community to foster progress.

  • Share your criteria and requirements at SDIA events.
  • Share your lessons learned, best practices, and challenges with the SDIA community.
  • Create awareness about your requirements for future digital and IT infrastructure.
  • Support progress tracking by completing the SDIA survey quarterly.
Purchasers
Providers

Principles for Purchasers

Transparency and Reporting

01.

Understand the environmental impact of your digital infrastructure—both owned and outsourced—and educate your procurement and IT teams accordingly.

  • Measure and understand the environmental impact of your digital infrastructure. Proactively educate both your IT and procurement teams about the sustainability impacts of own and third-party digital infrastructure.

02.

Demand transparency from your IT and digital infrastructure supply chain to get the data you need for your own reporting.

  • Work with your suppliers to obtain regular and detailed environmental impact data for all IT services and infrastructure you purchase. This transparency is crucial for accurate sustainability reporting, accountability and helps identify areas for improvement.
  • Use standardized reporting formats (and facilitate their creation if lacking standards) to ensure consistency in your data collection (see our Sustainability Indicators).

03.

Account for your IT and digital infrastructure environmental impact in your own sustainability reporting.

  • Include digital infrastructure in your organization's sustainability reports and integrate reduction of its environmental impact into your sustainability goals. This means:
    • Measuring and tracking energy consumption of your IT infrastructure and the share of renewable/non-renewable energy.
    • Measuring and tracking the amount of materials, electronic waste and other materiality aspects within digital infrastructure – from buildings to ICT equipment.
    • Calculating associated GHG emissions and climate impact – both from non-renewable energy use as well as use of materials.
    • Setting specific reduction goals for IT and digital infrastructure usage or environmental impact in the organization.
    • Regularly reviewing and updating progress as part of the sustainability report.
  • Consider both direct impacts (owned infrastructure) and indirect impacts (cloud services, data centers) in your reporting scope. Depending on your size and location this may required as part of the EU CSRD.

Procurement Strategy

04.

Include local impact as a key factor in your purchasing decisions and award criteria.

  • When selecting IT and cloud infrastructure providers, evaluate their local impact. Prioritize providers who demonstrate positive contributions to their communities.
  • Local impact refers to creating environmental, social, and economic benefits for communities where providers operate—including tax contribution, job creation, educational initiatives, energy system integration, and meaningful engagement with local communities and governments.

05.

Include sustainability as a key factor in your purchasing decisions and award criteria.

  • Prioritize suppliers who demonstrate strong environmental practices, responsible energy use, and commitment to reducing their sustainability impact through measurable targets and actions.

06.

Collaborate with suppliers on long-term plans to address the environmental impact of digital infrastructure.

  • Engage with your suppliers to develop long-term plans to address and reduce environmental impact of IT and digital infrastructure.

07.

Make the criteria for purchasing digital infrastructure public, so that you are actively shaping the market.

  • Create and publish criteria for purchasing digital infrastructure that embed core values—sustainability, transparency, and local impact. You can use our criteria database as a resource.

Sustainability Strategy

08.

Work with your IT teams to develop a comprehensive digital infrastructure sustainability strategy.

  • Create a comprehensive plan for using digital and IT infrastructure that minimizes environmental impact and conserves resources.
  • Integrate purchasing criteria into your technical selection and design processes.
  • If possible: Establish a sustainability role focused on IT and digital infrastructure.

Community Engagement

09.

Engage actively with the community to foster progress.

  • Share your criteria and requirements at SDIA events.
  • Share your lessons learned, best practices, and challenges with the SDIA community.
  • Create awareness about your requirements for future digital and IT infrastructure.
  • Support progress tracking by completing the SDIA survey quarterly.