Green IT Programme

Objective

  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to IT systems and resources by the equivalent of 25,000 tons of CO2 per year by 2012 (constant scope).

Priorities for 2011

  • Continue to improve energy consumption linked to IT systems and resources.
  • Cover 100% of Group data centers.

Highlights in 2010

  • Validation of Green IT programme targets.
  • Estimated reduction of 7,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Societe Generale Group generated the equivalent of close to 278,000 tons of CO2 in 2010 (down 7% per occupant on 2009). IT systems and equipment accounted for a substantial proportion of this figure: namely close to 50% of the Group's electricity consumption and 25% of its CO2 emissions.

Objectives and structure of the Green IT programme

The aim of Societe Generale's Green IT programme is to implement the plan of action resulting from the Group's IT systems' maturity analysis in 2008 by prioritising different projects and initiatives and setting ambitious and quantitative environmental targets.

Management of the Green IT programme

The Green IT Steering Committee and programme working groups were set in place in June 2009. Each group was responsible for carrying out the preliminary technical and costs studies needed for each initiative. The results of these studies were then used to set quantifiable and measurable targets and to define the indicators needed to monitor their progress and subsequent success.
The steering committee that met in January 2010 approved:
  • the macro-planning for the measures to be implemented from 2010 - 2012,
  • the targets (in figures) for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions linked to IT systems and resources by 2012, namely the equivalent of 25,000 tons of CO2 per year by 2012, i.e. a cut of close to 8% in all Group emissions. This represents a reduction of 29% of emissions linked to IT systems and resources. At Today, 70% of this target has been achieved,
  • the estimated necessary investment for those measures that have not yet been budgeted.

Responsible electronic and electrical waste management

Societe Generale also plans to ensure its employees take a more responsible approach to electronic and electrical waste management. IT, office and telephone equipment that is replaced must be correctly treated when it is thrown away in order to keep its impact on the environment to a strict minimum. A Group directive on electronic and electrical waste has been published which lists the procedures to be followed and precautions to be taken in terms of security and the preservation of the environment. In France, an agreement has been signed with various companies from the waste management sector for the treatment and recycling of all Group electronic and telephone equipment.