Industry sustainability movement claims it is on course for 2,500 signatories

TechiesGoGreen reaching 'critical mass', according to DataSolutions CEO Michael O'Hara

An industry movement of IT and tech-oriented companies committed to decarbonising their businesses claims it is reaching "critical mass" as it targets 2,500 signatories by 2025.

Launched in 2021 by Dublin-headquartered distributor DataSolutions, TechiesGoGreen has already signed up 200 vendors, distributors resellers and other tech-oriented businesses, including Softcat, Pulsant, Pavillion, Getech, Version 1 and Purdicom.

The campaign has a flagship aim of helping every signatory reach carbon neutrality by 2030.

Talking to CRN, DataSolution group managing director Michael O'Hara (pictured) said the number of signatories is set to hit 300 before the end of 2022, 600 in 2023 and 2,500 in 2025.

"We're now starting to reach a critical mass, and we are building out the services we can offer our members," he said.

"There has been an awakening around the whole area of sustainability. A year ago, it was more aspirational. But I think businesses now realise they need to do something, and that the legislation that's coming down the tracks over the next three years, five years, is going to force them to do it and that customers and their employees want them to do this.

"Most people still are trying to understand what they can do and what's available. And that's really where we're focusing with TechiesGoGreen. We think that once you get started on the journey, if you have a head and a heart on you, you will continue and wants to do more."

Despite efforts to become carbon neutral itself by the end of 2022, DataSolutions has doubled revenues since 2019, O'Hara stressed.

Over the last three years, the distributor claims it has cut its location-based and market-based emissions by 33 and 75 per cent respectively, installing solar panels which meet 18 per cent of its needs, moving away from a gas burning heating system, switching to LED lights throughout the office environment, and moving to a verifiable green electricity supplier. It has also continued to assist company staff working from home to move to green energy providers where it was possible

"The two things [growth and sustainability] are not mutually exclusive at all. And I just would love for every business out there to take that on board," O'Hara said.