Digital pollution is the combined environmental impact of devices, networks and data centres: greenhouse gas emissions, metal extraction, electricity consumption and waste. It arises when equipment is manufactured, while it is in use and when it reaches the end of its life. In France, the manufacturing of equipment and infrastructure accounts for 60% of the digital carbon footprint and their use for 40%, according to ADEME (2022 data).
Read the source article: Digital carbon footprint statistics for 2026, with sources