June 11, 2025

EP58: The Darker Side of Tech and ESG with Oliver Cronk

45 minutes

In this episode, Ben Pearce and Oliver Cronk delve into the often overlooked environmental impacts of technology. They discuss the lifecycle of tech products, the significant role of datacenters, the challenges of e-waste, and the energy demands of AI.

Oliver Cronk is a Technology Director at ScottLogic. He's also the host of the Architect Tomorrow podcast and community.

Show Links

Ben Pearce LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpthoughts/

Tech World Human Skills Home - https://www.techworldhumanskills.com

Oliver Cronk LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/cronky/

Green Software Foundation - https://learn.greensoftware.foundation/

Takeaways

Technology has a significant environmental impact that is often overlooked.

The lifecycle of tech products includes energy consumption and resource extraction.

Data centers contribute to environmental issues through energy and water usage.

E-waste is a growing problem that needs proper disposal methods.

Planned obsolescence in devices leads to increased waste.

AI's energy consumption is much higher than traditional computing.

There is a lack of transparency in the tech industry's sustainability practices.

Consumers should be more aware of the environmental costs of their devices.

Using renewable energy sources for data centers is crucial for sustainability.

The tech industry needs to rethink its approach to hardware and recycling. We have traded off developer efficiency for machine efficiency.

AI can help find new battery chemistries and improve energy efficiency.

The hype around AI can lead to frivolous use without considering costs.

Sustainability is about creating enduring organizations.

Investors are increasingly looking for long-term sustainability in businesses.

There are significant cost savings to be found in sustainability efforts.

Awareness of environmental impact is crucial for tech professionals.

Generative AI can help translate complex sustainability concepts into layman's terms.

The true costs of AI technologies are not yet fully realized.

A culture of thriftiness and secondhand use can help reduce e-waste.

Keywords

technology, sustainability, environmental impact, datacenters, e-waste, AI, lifecycle analysis, renewable energy, carbon footprint, hardware, AI, sustainability, energy efficiency, environmental impact, technology, carbon reduction, business strategy, generative AI, climate change, tech industry

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