AWS Embraces Circularity to Boost Data Centre Sustainability

Data centres must enhance their sustainability efforts due to their significant contribution to global carbon emissions and extreme energy consumption.

By crafting a green data centre, organisations can not only meet evolving environmental regulations and consumer expectations but they can also further support efficiency and global climate targets. 

AWS has established clear guidelines for how it will reach its commitment of net-zero carbon by 2040 whilst also maintaining the evolving needs of customers to expand its data centres. 

The cloud computing company is embracing circularity and recycling to ensure it can secure its high levels of security while maintaining pace in our increasingly digital world.

AWS' circular economy strategy

AWS is intensifying its circular economy strategy to make AI more sustainable and support its overarching aim to maximise resource efficiency whilst minimising waste.

The company has created a three-pillar strategy to enhance its circularity efforts:

Design better

AWS is collaborating with other suppliers to enhance repair and reuse, extend the lifespan of its equipment and improve materials recovery at end-of-use.

For example, at least 30% of plastic serve rack components must be bio-based plastic or recycled content.

In solid-state drive (SSD) carriers, card holders, air ducts and power distribution board covers, the organisation is also moving to biobased and recycled content. 

Operate longer

AWS strives to maximise the operating life of its data centre infrastructure and equipment by focusing on efficient maintenance and utilisation for as long as operational efficiency to avoid excess waste — resulting in AWS’ average expected serve lifetime being six years.

By focusing on avoiding the early retirement of working hard drives and utilising functional drives for as long as possible, AWS has avoided purchasing more than 295,000 new hard drives. 

Recover more

AWS repeatedly strives to retrieve more value from decommissioned assets by enhancing its reuse, repair and recycling practices, such as its Amazon’s re:Cycle Reverse Logistics hubs. 

Since 2023, 23.5 million components have been sold or recycled on the secondary market.

Manju Murugesan, AWS’s Circular Economy Strategy Lead, explains AWS’ commitment to sustainability: "We’re committed to investing and innovating in sustainability to create a more sustainable future.

"Embracing circularity represents a paradigm shift in resource management, and at AWS, we're leveraging multiple strategies to drive this transformation.

"We're challenging the traditional 'take-make-waste' model, taking a holistic approach to extend the lifecycle of our resources.

"While we're encouraged by our progress, we recognise the complexity of the challenge ahead. 

"Our journey towards true circularity requires ongoing innovation and collaboration and we're committed to this critical work for the benefit of our business, customers and the planet."

Amazon’s wider sustainability initiatives

Amazon’s commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 is called The Climate Pledge.

This initiative drives responsible change and joint action by collecting some of the world’s leading companies. 

Amazon has continuously highlighted its commitment to sustainability through its numerous achievements, including:

• 100% of electricity consumed by Amazon in 2023 was matched with renewable energy sources
• 13% decrease in carbon density since 2022
• 75% reduction in food waste intensity in Europe operations and 28% reduction in US operations compared to a 2021 baseline
• More than 31 million learners have built their cloud skills through Amazon’s free cloud initiatives, exceeding its goal more than a year ahead of schedule
• 41% of the way towards meeting AWS’ goal of becoming water positive by 2030.

By focusing on reducing waste and packaging, protecting natural resources, advancing human rights, driving climate solutions and creating innovative products and services, AWS continues to strive to create a sustainable future by leveraging its scale and culture.

Amazon re:Cycle Reverse Logistics hubs

Amazon’s re:Cycle Reverse Logistics hubs repair, recirculate and assess used equipment so it can be sold to third parties or put into inventory.

Thanks to this, 99% of all AWS decommissioned racks were either recycled, reused or sold onto the secondary market.

AWS can now utilise its reuse inventory to source 13% of spare parts. 

AWS makes component reuse possible by: 

1. Removing customer data from decommissioned server racks
2. Sending decommissions server racks and hardware components to reverse logistics hubs
3. Demanufacture server racks into individual components
4. FA labs receive individual components to repair and test
5. Components undergo failure analysis to ensure component functionality
6. The environment of a data centre serve is simulated by putting a Nitro card in a testing rig
7. AWS’ hardware engineering teams analyse test results to enhance future designs
8. Inventory receive functional components so they can be reused in AWS data centres

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