CIOs dump environmentally unfriendly suppliers

Environmental footprint and energy-efficiency will increasingly be a factor in the selection of technology suppliers and partners, according to CIOs.

A report by Greenpeace this week names and shames the least environmentally friendly electronics manufacturers, with Apple, LG and Panasonic propping up the list.

All but one of silicon.com's 12-man CIO Jury IT user panel said these factors will influence the choice of tech vendors they work with in the future.

Paul Hopkins, IT director at the University of Newcastle, said: "Green issues already have a major impact on our decision making, for example sourcing kit that uses less power, and considering carefully where our obsolete kit ends up. However, our staff and students are increasingly expecting us to become more green and it won't be too long before we have to consider 'carbon accounting' for all of our business activities."

Green credentials are also already part of the selection process for Christopher Linfoot, IT director at the LDV Group.

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He said: "Every supplier we use whether for production or non-production is assessed for environmental performance as well as other factors."

Nicholas Bellenberg, IT director at UK publisher Hachette Filipacchi, said those suppliers who are able to provide audited data for this area will quickly gain credibility among IT buyers.

Green IT is especially important for those in certain industries, such as recycling, to practice what they preach. Mark Beattie, is head of IT at recycling and waste management business LondonWaste, which generates electricity from waste.

He said: "All the power we use in-house is green energy. We'll want to be at the forefront of green computing as it fits with our overall business strategy."

But Chris Broad, head of information management and technology at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, said there is still very little differentiation between IT vendors on green factors.

Today's CIO Jury was...

Murray Bain, IT director, NHS Direct
Mark Beattie, head of IT, LondonWaste
Alastair Behenna, CIO, Harvey Nash
Nicholas Bellenberg, IT director, Hachette Filipacchi UK
Chris Broad, head of IM&T, UKAEA
Paul Broome, CTO, 192.com
Paul Haley, director of IT, University of Aberdeen
Paul Hopkins, IT director, University of Newcastle
Tony Johnson, IT director, Virgin Retail
Christopher Linfoot, IT director, LDV Group
Peter Ryder, head of ICT, Preston City Council
Gavin Whatrup, group IT director, Creston

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