Digital resources aren’t free: An interview with Robert Pollice on GreenDisc and digital sustainability

In an era where technology drives progress at an unprecedented pace, it’s easy to overlook the invisible footprint we leave behind. From cloud storage to AI-driven research, our digital habits shape not only innovation but also the health of our planet. While sustainability conversations often focus on physical waste and energy, the environmental impact of our digital practices, data centers humming 24/7, energy-intensive simulations, and the ever-growing demand for storage, remains a silent challenge.

In this interview, Dr. Robert Pollice, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen’s Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, sheds light on the urgent need for digital sustainability. Robert explains how GreenDisc helps researchers assess and reduce their digital carbon footprint, from managing data storage to optimizing computing resources. As one of the first institutions to pilot this certification, the UG is leading the way in making digital practices as sustainable as lab work. Robert shares practical steps for researchers to get involved, the tangible benefits of certification, and why recognizing the true cost of digital resources is the first step toward a greener future.

What is your role at the UG, and what drew you to digital sustainability?

I’m an assistant professor at the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, working at the interface of organic chemistry and machine learning. Chemistry has long grappled with its public image; while it’s responsible for many societal advancements, it’s also associated with environmental hazards. The “green chemistry” movement has been addressing this for decades.

However, as I worked more with AI and simulations, I realized that digital practices like GPU usage and energy consumption each also have significant environmental impact, especially when energy comes from non-renewable sources. This awareness led me to digital sustainability. Around the same time, the Green Labs initiative was taking hold at the UG, focusing on sustainable lab practices. It felt natural to expand this to digital practices, and that’s how I got involved with GreenDisc, together with Elisabeth Wilhelm, Vasilios Andrikopoulos, and Brian Setz.

What is GreenDisc, and how does it relate to Green Labs and LEAF?

Green Labs is a bottom-up initiative at the UG that helps researchers make labs more sustainable by reducing single-use plastics, energy consumption, and hazardous waste. The LEAF certificate formalizes these efforts, providing credibility and motivation.

GreenDisc is a parallel initiative, inspired by LEAF but focused on digital sustainability: computers, simulations, AI, and data management. It’s not dependent on LEAF; they’re separate certificates for different scopes. GreenDisc was developed by Loïc Lannelongue in collaboration with UK universities, and the UG was one of the first institutions to pilot it. We provided feedback, such as emphasizing the importance of inventorying computing resources before implementing measures, which was later included into the framework.

How can researchers at the UG get involved with GreenDisc?

Researchers can start by contacting our central team. We’re the first point of contact for any group interested in certification. We provide an onboarding questionnaire that guides groups through the process, helping them document their computing resources, data storage, and sustainability policies. The questionnaire isn’t just a formality; it’s a living document, much like a data management plan, that helps groups become aware of their digital footprint.

Once a group completes the questionnaire, they submit a written document with proof of implementation (e.g., links to computing resources, policies). The UK team then pairs groups for peer review, where they exchange feedback and best practices. After this, the UK team grants the certificate.

We’re also working to make the process as smooth as possible. For example, we’ve compiled an inventory of UG’s computing resources, so groups don’t have to start from scratch.

How does GreenDisc address research data management and sustainability?

Research data management is a core criterion in GreenDisc. For the bronze level, groups must have a data deletion policy, not necessarily strict, but it must exist. The goal is to raise awareness: What data do you really need to keep? Can you delete what’s easily recreatable? This becomes more rigorous in silver and gold tiers.

Good data management directly impacts sustainability. Data centres consume energy, and as data volumes grow, so does the need for storage and the associated carbon footprint. At the UG, we’re already seeing storage shortages, which can lead to higher costs and energy use. By being mindful of what we store, we can reduce both financial and environmental costs.

What are the incentives for researchers or groups to pursue GreenDisc certification?

Right now, the main incentive is cost savings. While individual research groups may not pay energy bills directly, faculties do, and reducing energy use can lead to significant savings. GreenDisc helps groups identify where they can cut costs, especially as they move from bronze to silver.

There’s also the potential for future incentives, such as grant requirements or benefits for sustainable research practices. For example, some funders already require data management plans; GreenDisc could become a similar expectation for digital sustainability in the future.

For central teams (like ours), the incentive is to support multiple research groups and tailor the process to their specific needs. Larger institutes, like the Astronomy Institute, have even formed their own central team to manage their unique infrastructure.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about digital sustainability?

I wouldn’t call it a misunderstanding, but rather a lack of awareness: digital resources aren’t free. Every simulation, every byte of stored data, every AI query consumes energy, and that translates to a carbon footprint. Just because something is “free” or easy to access doesn’t mean it’s without cost to the environment.

We need to be conscious of what we use, what we store, and how we collaborate. GreenDisc is a step toward making that awareness actionable.