Smarter Resource Use Could Bring $800B Boost to Tech Industry

The global tech industry could unlock $800 billion in new value by 2030 by reducing its impact on the environment and adopting more sustainable practices. This estimate comes from Nature Positive: Role of the Technology Sector, a new report from the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Oliver Wyman.

According to the report, more than half of that potential value lies in upstream sectors like energy and mining, where companies can expand renewable power, recover resources more efficiently, and build electronics with recycled materials. Infrastructure improvements, such as energy-efficient buildings and wastewater reuse, account for another third. The remaining value may come from smarter land use and digital tools that enable lower emissions and better resource management.

The report points to serious environmental costs tied to tech's rapid growth. The industry already uses about 4 percent of global energy and over 1.5 trillion liters of water each year—more than the entire country of Denmark. Semiconductor production relies on mined metals like silicon and copper, while data centers require massive power and cooling resources. These trends are expected to intensify as demand grows for artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and high-performance electronics.

The number of global data centers—currently over 11,000—is growing by nearly 20 percent annually. Some hyperscale facilities can require more than one gigawatt of electricity and millions of liters of water per day. This creates challenges for local infrastructure and ecosystems, especially in areas already facing water or energy stress, according to the report.

These resource demands are also drawing community pushback. Since 2024, $64 billion worth of US data center projects have been delayed or blocked due to local concerns. Governments are responding with new policies aimed at monitoring and reducing the environmental impact of tech operations. The report notes efforts in the European Union, China, and the United States to enforce energy reporting and efficiency standards.

E-waste is another major concern. Hardware manufacturing is expected to grow 8 percent per year through 2030, and global e-waste is forecast to reach 82 billion kilograms by then. Less than a quarter of this waste is formally recycled, and much of it ends up in landfills or is processed under unsafe conditions, per the report.

To address these issues, the report outlines seven steps tech companies can take: Use water more efficiently, reduce pollution and waste, manage land use more responsibly, cut greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy use, improve supply chain practices, and engage in policy development. These actions follow a clear order—starting with avoiding harm, then reducing, restoring, and finally compensating when impacts can't be avoided.

Some companies are already applying these practices. For example, several chip manufacturers recycle more than 80 percent of their water. Others are testing closed-loop cooling systems that reuse water and reduce evaporation. Data centers running on renewable power have also cut emissions significantly, the report said.

Still, corporate action on nature remains limited. While 78 percent of Fortune Global 500 companies have set climate targets, only 12 percent have goals related to biodiversity, and less than 1 percent fully understand how their operations depend on natural systems. The report calls for broader adoption of nature-focused business strategies to reduce risk and improve long-term resilience across the tech sector.