Sustainable business practices
The IT sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. This also brings with it high CO2 emissions. As a web designer and photographer, I strive to make the internet as sustainable as possible. That means: a global web with the lowest possible emissions.
I want to achieve that goal by adhering to a set of principled commitments:
Green electricity
Green power
My home office runs entirely on green electricity. For example, the batteries of my laptop, phone and photography equipment are powered by electricity generated by wind and solar power.
This website is hosted on a server in Brussels of the Belgian company Combell. This company only works with sustainable, green data centers.
Green transport
Bicycle and public transportation
When I work on the move, I prefer cycling and public transportation. I don’t drive a car and travel within Europe by train as much as possible. Do I need to be on the other side of the world? Then I do use the plane, but try to stay on site as long as possible.
Meetings: preferably physical
Do you live or work in Brussels or its surroundings? Then I can come to you or we can meet in a library, café or coworking space. I prefer this to online meetings, because video calling costs a lot of GB, which in turn generates CO2 emissions. Do you live or work further away? No problem, then of course we’ll schedule a call via Teams.
Slow travel
Being a part-time digital nomad is part of my business. Often I am traveling. I travel by train as much as possible within Europe. I also stay in the same location as long as possible, to keep my ecological footprint within limits.
No useless gadgets
A web designer and photographer doesn’t need that much. I am a convinced minimalist. I buy for this business only the things I really need. Useless gadgets are not for me.
Green Process
Minimal AI
Artificial intelligence is great, but it uses a huge amount of computing power. Because AI puts enormous strain on the servers, they use large amounts of water and electricity. Therefore, I use artificial intelligence as little as possible. For example, you won’t find any photos or text created with AI on this website. I prefer hand work to robot work.
Almost no clouds
Clouds are very convenient, but consume a huge amount of energy. To keep this within limits, I use clouds as little as possible. For example, my original and edited photos are just on hard drives.
Newsletter: Dutch and sustainable
I send newsletters through the Dutch company LaPosta. Like me, this Zutphen-based company uses a sustainable server.
Telephony: through a cooperative
The Brussels-based mobile cooperative Neibo provides my mobile phone and data use. The profit, which they make, they invest back into their own offer and into local projects.
Web design
When building websites, I strive for the lowest possible carbon footprint. Websites I build as sustainably as possible.
Search Engine Ecosia
The default search engine on my laptop and phone is Ecosia. In fact, this green search engine offsets the CO2 emissions it creates. I search, Ecosia plants trees.