Decarbonizing Data Report highlights tension between infrastructure expansion, energy use, and ESG goals
As artificial intelligence (AI) workloads surge globally, Seagate Technology has issued a clarion call for sustainability-first thinking in data infrastructure. The company’s newly released Decarbonizing Data report warns of escalating energy consumption, with AI pushing enterprises to simultaneously manage scale, cost, and carbon.
According to the report, 94.5% of business leaders expect their data storage needs to rise, while over 97% believe AI will further accelerate this demand. Yet despite 95% expressing concern about environmental impact, fewer than 4% prioritize sustainability in procurement.
“This is not a trade-off between cost and sustainability—it’s an opportunity to optimize for both.” — Jason Feist, SVP of Cloud Marketing, Seagate
“Data centers are under intense scrutiny—not only because they support modern AI workloads, but because they are becoming one of the most energy-intensive sectors of the digital economy,” said Jason Feist, SVP of Cloud Marketing, Seagate.
India in Focus
In India, 90% of respondents voiced environmental concerns, with 50% citing energy usage as the top issue. Physical space, power availability, and infrastructure cost were flagged as the biggest adoption hurdles for greener storage.
Key Barriers to Sustainable Storage
- High energy consumption (53.5%)
- Raw material requirements (49.5%)
- Space constraints and infrastructure costs
Bridging the Gap: Three Sustainability Pillars
The Decarbonizing Data report outlines a three-pillar strategy:
- Technological Innovation – Using solutions like Seagate’s HAMR-based Mozaic 3+ platform, which triples capacity, cuts carbon per terabyte by 70%, and reduces cost by 25%.
- Lifecycle Extension & Circularity – Prioritizing reuse and refurbishment over replacements.
- Shared Accountability – Coordinated emissions reduction efforts across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 with partners and vendors.
A Unified Approach Needed
“Sustainability cannot be solved in isolation,” Feist emphasized. “A holistic approach spanning infrastructure, life cycle management, and industry-wide accountability could ensure that the growth of AI and data center operations does not come at the expense of the environment.”
