World Environment Day: The AV Industry’s Role in Building Sustainable Digital Workplaces

As the world marks World Environment Day, the conversation around sustainability continues to expand beyond traditional industries — and the AV and workplace technology sectors are now taking centre stage. At Pro AV Solutions, we believe that responsible technology isn’t a future ambition — it’s a current imperative.

ESG Takes Centre Stage in the AV Industry

Key workplace technology companies are driving meaningful progress in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. Through sustainable product design, energy-efficient innovations, and responsible corporate governance, these companies are shaping a greener, more ethical future for digital workplaces.

ICT and property leaders are increasingly facing the paradox of shorter development cycles in technology while needing to prioritise environmental impact reduction. However, in 2024, this trade-off is no longer inevitable. Improved approaches to sourcing hardware responsibly and structuring long-term investments are helping avoid the waste of functional technology and reduce emissions at scale.

According to Accenture, 25% of CIOs are predicted to have their compensation linked to their sustainable technology impact by 2027. This shift signals not only a rising awareness but an operational integration of sustainability into core business strategies.

Environmental Impact Across the AV Ecosystem

Many technology providers are embracing sustainable manufacturing and product development practices. Several global leaders are demonstrating how environmental responsibility can be embedded at every stage of the hardware lifecycle:

• Logitech has emerged as a front-runner in carbon transparency, implementing carbon labelling on its products and using post-consumer recycled plastics in peripherals such as keyboards and mice. The company has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
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• Microsoft is going further by targeting carbon negativity by 2030. It plans to eliminate its historical carbon footprint by 2050 and operate all its data centers entirely on renewable energy by 2025.
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• Cisco has committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Its efforts focus on energy-efficient networking equipment and AI-driven energy-saving solutions that support sustainable operations at scale.
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• Neat is incorporating sustainable materials into its video conferencing hardware while actively reducing packaging waste — aligning hardware innovation with environmental goals.
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• Samsung is making notable progress in workplace sustainability through its new e-paper display technology. These ultra-low-power alternatives to traditional LED and LCD signage drastically reduce energy consumption. The innovation is expected to reshape workplace collaboration, enabling businesses to digitise workflows while significantly lowering their environmental footprint. Samsung is also advancing sustainable semiconductor manufacturing and decarbonising its supply chain, with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

These developments demonstrate that sustainability and technology performance are no longer at odds. Instead, they're converging to reshape what’s possible for the workplace of the future.

Pro AV Solutions’ Commitment

At Pro AV Solutions, we are proud to partner with manufacturers that share our values. We’re committed to designing and delivering integrated AV solutions that reduce energy consumption, extend product lifespan, and support sustainable transformation across industries.

Whether it’s through modular, right-sized systems or end-of-life reuse and recycling programs, our goal is to help clients build smarter, greener environments — from offices and campuses to public institutions and beyond.

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