By Oliver Van Camp, Product Director of Meeting Room Experience, Barco ClickShare
Today’s IT leaders manage more than infrastructure — they shape the sustainability strategies that define business success.
Investors now scrutinize environmental performance, customers weigh principles as heavily as price, and regulators continue to raise expectations. This convergence places technology leaders in a position to play a far more strategic role.
ClickShare’s 2025 IT Sustainability Report shows that IT leaders recognize this moment. 96% of respondents said their work meaningfully contributes to global sustainability, and 98% believe IT should take the lead in advancing their company’s sustainability goals.
For IT managers, this is more than a corporate priority. It’s a career opportunity. By driving sustainability with measurable results, IT leaders position themselves to shape business strategy and gain influence in long-term decision-making.
And for many, it’s personal. Eighty-two percent would turn down a role at an organization without a strong sustainability track record.
Summary
Why Driving Sustainability Expands IT’s Leadership Role
IT decisions affect every dimension of sustainability, from energy consumption and hardware lifecycles to the way hybrid collaboration is supported. Few functions rival IT in influence — every choice shapes both the bottom line and the planet.
That influence grows through collaboration. Partnering with finance, procurement, operations and sustainability teams allows IT to translate ESG commitments into measurable outcomes. When IT delivers reliable metrics and optimizes technology lifecycles, business leaders start to see it as a strategic partner, not just a back-office function.
In this context, sustainability serves as a proving ground for leadership. By linking technology decisions to both business value and environmental progress, IT professionals show not only technical mastery but also the ability to shape organizational strategy. It’s a capability that accelerates career growth and secures IT’s voice in leadership conversations.
How IT Teams Can Embed Sustainability in Operations
IT leaders have the conviction. Now it’s about execution. By targeting measurable improvements, from energy consumption to vendor accountability, IT can demonstrate tangible results that resonate with executives and employees alike.
Here are four data-driven actions IT leaders can take to align with organizational priorities and strengthen their influence:
1. Measure and report IT’s carbon footprint
Sixty-five percent of IT leaders rank purchasing equipment with sustainability certifications, e.g., Energy Star or carbon-neutral labels, as their top strategy for achieving KPIs. The differentiator is converting those choices into measurable outcomes executives value.
By deploying tools that track energy consumption and emissions, IT can provide the hard data executives and sustainability officers need for reporting and compliance. This positions IT as the owner of critical ESG intelligence.
2. Extend hardware lifespans to save money and reduce waste
IT leaders recognize that device lifespan directly affects both cost and sustainability, with many citing lifecycle management as one of their top priorities.
Optimizing refresh cycles, upgrading rather than replacing equipment and planning for redeployment all reduce e-waste while stretching capital investments. Demonstrating these savings positions IT as a steward of both financial health and environmental responsibility.
3. Prioritize recyclability and repairability
Fewer than half of IT leaders currently rank recyclability and repairability as major priorities, yet these are powerful levers for reducing waste. By choosing devices designed for easy repair and partnering with vendors that offer take-back and recycling programs, IT managers can help their organizations avoid premature hardware disposal.
Demonstrating success here not only advances sustainability metrics but also builds trust with sustainability teams and employees who expect visible accountability.
4. Partner with vendors to clear roadblocks
Most IT leaders struggle to find sustainable technology options and integrate them into existing systems. But by working closely with vendors that provide transparent data, recognized certifications and lifecycle support, IT leaders can clear adoption hurdles for the wider business.
For example, ClickShare designs its wireless conferencing solutions with sustainability in mind. Every product is either carbon neutral or carries an A-label in the Barco ECO-score. Choosing partners that share your ESG goals makes it easier to meet targets without compromising performance.
IT’s Evolving Role in a Sustainable Future
Expectations around sustainability will only intensify. Customers demand it, regulators enforce it and employees insist on it.
For IT leaders, this creates a unique opportunity to extend their influence far beyond traditional responsibilities. By embedding sustainability into technology decisions and forging cross-enterprise partnerships, IT can both accelerate environmental progress and elevate its leadership role.
In the end, sustainability isn’t just good business, it’s how IT leaders define the future of their organizations and their careers.