Reconciling digital transformation and environmental responsibility: the strategic role of digital sobriety in Belgian organizations
Details
- Supervisors
- Faculty
- Degree label
- Abstract
- Digital technologies have become inseparable from the way businesses innovate, grow, and compete. In Belgium and beyond, digital transformation is no longer a choice; it is a strategic necessity. But this growing dependence on digital technologies has a sneaky cost as well: a large and fast-growing environmental footprint. From the extraction of rare earth materials to data use and the electronics waste boom, the digital sector is increasingly accounting for a larger share of global greenhouse gas emissions. This paradox, between technological progress and environmental degradation, has become one of the key challenge for organizations seeking to align with sustainable development goals. As a reaction, a new concept is gaining ground: digital sobriety. Rather than promoting more and faster technology, digital sobriety invites organizations to rethink their digital practices through the lens of necessity, efficiency, and ecological responsibility. It encourages a shift from excess to relevance, limiting unnecessary hardware, streamlining digital services, and reducing energy and data consumption. The thesis discusses how Belgian companies, operating in different industries, can integrate digital sobriety into their digital transformation strategies without compromising performance. Based on five qualitative case studies and interviews with professionals in IT, innovation, and sustainability, the research explores how companies perceive the concept, the barriers they face, and the strategies they develop to implement it. The findings reveal deep tensions: short-term business goals and long-term environmental commitments often conflict, and the pace of innovation is not always aligned with ecological imperatives. Yet the report also finds heartening signs of change. Internal champions, green procurement, employee awareness, and closer collaboration between IT and CSR functions are emerging as enablers. Rather than a limitation, digital sobriety is an opportunity for strategy. It is a chance to build stronger, leaner, and more sustainable digital strategies. By placing environmental responsibility at the heart of digital transformation, organizations can clear the path towards a more sustainable and future-ready digital economy.