I'm Dr Justin Sutton-Parker. I hold a PhD in computer science with Warwick University and a MBA in sustainability - both majoring in sustainable IT.  

Since 1994, I've worked for various global information technology (IT) companies and enjoyed roles such as Managing Chief Technologist for Hewlett-Packard (HP). In 2013, I founded an award winning sustainable IT research and consulting company called Px3. Today, I spend my time as a freelance sustainable IT consultant for businesses across the globe and as a research fellow for universities, governments, global tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, and IT eco labels including TCO Certified.

Before 2013, I was fortunate to be able to exercise my passion for sustainable IT via my day job. Early examples include widespread virtualisation of UK government data centres to reduce server numbers and energy consumption. Plus, working with hyperscale service providers, such as Microsoft, to emphasise the lower carbon credentials of cloud computing among consumers. This was satisfying as sustainable IT was, at that point, not yet on the agenda for most companies. 

This limited awareness of sustainable IT endured for many years. To substantiate this, I conducted research in 2018 called, 'Quantifying resistance to the diffusion of information technology sustainability practices in the United Kingdom service sector’ (Science Direct). The paper determines that the key barriers to adopting sustainable IT are cost, complexity and a perception of limited positive impact. 

To overcome this I invented the world's first sustainable IT calculation and comparison applications platform. The Px3 (Planet, Profit, Policy) platform has three key applications that i) generate a current baseline report (showing IT carbon footprint, e-waste, energy consumption, utility and procurement costs), ii) generate a sustainable IT strategy report that determines reductions to the current baseline via remodelled approaches, iii) enable IT and procurement teams to compare IT carbon footprint before purchase.  

As such, stakeholders can quickly see and demonstrate that sustainable IT is easy and meaningfully reduces environmental impact, plus lowers associated costs such as electricity bills as devices become more efficient and procurement expenditure as equipment is kept for longer periods.

The Px3 platform also includes free online tools and is used by Google, Microsoft, Citrix, IGEL, Acer, Qualcomm, ControlUp among others, plus over 400 businesses and organisations globally including the UK government. 

To date the platform has measured the carbon footprint of over 5,000,000 IT users and helps to reduce IT carbon footprint, e-waste, energy consumption and associated costs by an average of 30%. This has helped overcome the stakeholder barriers determined in my research noted above.

I also work as a research fellow for the University of Warwick computer science faculty. I have written over 40 sustainable IT research papers testing and creating new approaches to determining the carbon footprint of IT with greater accuracy and ease. To date, as part of the ongoing process, twelve papers have been published in scientific journals such as Science Direct and Springer Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. 

Notable highlights include, ‘Determining end user computing device Scope 2 GHG emissions with accurate use phase energy consumption measurement’ (2020). This paper substantiates that current IT energy measurement and benchmarking practices do not include the impact of human use on power draw. This means that a) use-phase GHG emissions in product carbon footprint reports are incorrect by between -48% to +107%, b) that potentially energy efficiency hardware is overlooked during selection procedures due to appearing to be inefficient when benchmarked in low power states. Google uses the findings from this and my further research papers as the foundation of their ChromeOS sustainability strategy. 

“Sustainability is at the heart of Google and Chrome OS. It is so important that we ensure we have a solid, science-based validation of the benefits our solutions can offer. The research and contribution has helped to shape our approach to sustainability at a global level." Director Chrome Enterprise EMEA, Google

Additionally, ‘Determining UK government scope 2 and 3 computer greenhouse gas emissions’ (2023) has enabled the UK government to introduce IT supply chain GHG emissions calculation to annual 'Greening Government ICT' policy reports. 

"Having access to never previously available data is essential to evolving our policies, procurement practices, accurate government reporting and ensuring our technology partners focus on low carbon footprint production and supply." DEFRA, Head of Digital Sustainability

Plus, ‘Can new metrics be validated to reduce computer supply chain GHG emissions among end users?' has enabled the global leading IT eco-label, TCO Certified, to substantiate the impact of device lifespan extension on IT carbon footprint reduction. Consequently, the eco-label has updated its latest certification based upon the findings.

Most recently, I spent 18 months leading what is recognised by the Department for Education's (DfE) chief scientific advisor as the largest sustainable IT research project to date. It focuses on English state funded schools consisting of over 25,000 organisations with 16.1 million computer users. Meaning the sector represents one of the world's largest IT user communities. 

I conducted research to determine the carbon footprint, energy consumption, e-waste and associated costs of end user computing in English schools. Plus, I modelled sustainable IT strategies to highlight feasible improvements. The findings will form national sustainable IT policies within the UK education sector to support the UK’s broader sustainability goals and policies. 

"For the first time, this research allowed us to quantify emissions associated with specific ICT assets across a sample of our schools, providing far more robust and meaningful data."  Snr. Sustainability Lead, United Learning

As an aside, I have also published sustainable IT specific magazines for the UN COP meetings. The titles were distributed with the Guardian newspapers and include 'Time IT Changed' and 'Sustainable IT' and reached an estimated audience of 4 million readers. 

Plus I have appeared in articles and podcasts for mainstream media such as The Economist, The New Statesman among others. 

Finally, in 2024 my research and the Px3 sustainable IT applications platform was nominated for The Earth Shot prize. I made it through to the latter stages but sadly did not win. 

So, whether you are examining sustainable IT to help fix the Planet, to improve your Profit or to comply with new carbon footprint reporting Policy, I can help you to make this a reality.