In an era where data storage is not just a necessity but a backbone of corporate operations, choosing a storage provider like Storj not only aligns with technical and budget requirements but also with a commitment to environmental stewardship. Storj has introduced a new feature in its user interface and on invoices that underscores this commitment by detailing the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions associated with stored data.
Data growth and sustainability.
In 2021, International Data Corporation (IDC) estimated the world had roughly 80 zettabytes of data and that figure could quadruple by 2025. With the rapid growth of generative AI, video and other data-intensive applications, the demand for data storage is only going to rise.
Building and operating data centers is obviously bad for the environment. But, did you know that manufacturing just 1TB of HDD results in 20 kg of carbon? Manufacturing new hard drives to support the world’s appetite for data storage is not the answer.
Storj is different from cloud storage companies like AWS, Microsoft and Wasabi. Storj transforms unused storage space into a massive global network, extending the life of existing hardware rather than manufacturing more. Storj eliminates the need for new data centers too.
The innovative Storj approach provides enterprise-level durability and high performance globally by default. This reduces the amount of data that needs to be stored - further reducing carbon emissions. With traditional cloud storage providers, data is often replicated 3 or more times for multi-region performance and durability. Businesses using Storj save up to 90% on cloud storage costs and significantly reduce their carbon intensity.
For a comprehensive look at how Storj is more sustainable than alternative cloud storage providers and how these numbers are calculated, please see this white paper.
Carbon footprint transparency.
As the world grapples with the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, every sector is being called upon to play its part. Storj now makes it extremely fast and easy to see the environmental impact of cloud object storage with a new feature that allows customers to view the amount of CO2e emissions they have contributed by using Storj's services.
To put these figures into perspective, the interface also estimates the emissions that would have been produced if the same data were managed by traditional hyperscalers or corporate data centers.
Storj's transparency in CO2e emissions not only highlights its lower carbon footprint but also supports customers in meeting their sustainability objectives, which are increasingly mandated by new global regulations on sustainability reporting.
By choosing Storj, customers not only benefit from high performance, security, and savings, but also significant environmental efficiency. This feature provides tangible data that helps businesses understand and report their own sustainability performance, a crucial factor in today’s environmentally-conscious market.
Real impact.
Imagine a scenario where a company decides to shift its data storage from traditional data centers to Storj. This transition, informed by the CO2e emissions data provided, not only supports global sustainability efforts but also enhances the company's reputation as a responsible business.
To date, Storj has accounted for a total emission of 2,295 metric tons of CO2e to store over 28PB of data for customers. To store the same data with a traditional cloud storage provider the estimated emissions would be 4,758 metric tons and with a corporate data center 11,896 metric tons.
To put that in perspective, Storj avoided 2,463 metric tons compared to traditional cloud storage which is equivalent CO2 emissions from over 275 thousand gallons of gasoline consumed. When compared to a corporate data center, the carbon avoided is equivalent to 1 million gallons of gasoline consumed.
Choose wisely—choose sustainability.
Storj's introduction of CO2e tracking in its user interface is more than just a feature—it highlights a dedication to sustainability and corporate responsibility. By providing these insights, Storj encourages its users to make environmentally sound decisions.
In addition to CO2e transparency and building a cleaner cloud object storage solution, Storj is also a founding member of the Digital Sustainability Alliance, to work with other technology companies and provide a voice for innovative, sustainable technology practices and solutions that address the environmental impact of storing and computing digital data.
Storj encourages all companies to consider not just the security and efficiency of their data storage solutions, but also the environmental impact, making choices that benefit both their operations and the planet.
