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SoftIron’s approach to sustainability is closely tied to the way in which we choose to build our products and our company, with a unique, task-specific mindset.

As we all consider our approach to achieving Net Zero, long term, resilience-oriented outcomes are top of mind from the very beginning – for us, and our customers. As a result, our organisational structure, design and manufacturing process, and ultra energy-efficient solutions directly impact our customer’s ability to achieve their own sustainability goals.

For every 34TB of storage run in HyperCloud vs. comparable alternatives, an estimated 1 tonne of CO2 is saved by reduced energy consumption alone over its lifespan.*

1 tonne of CO₂ saved

This is the equivalent of 2,482 miles driven by an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle in carbon reduction

Designed, not assembled

Unlike any other IT vendor today, SoftIron designs and manufactures its own products from component level up, in-house. HyperCloud is designed using our innovative technology strategy, affording maximum reuse across the portfolio. This enables us to minimise waste and stock holding, and maximise the efficiency of our operations.

Edge manufacturing strategy

SoftIron employs a unique, “Edge Manufacturing” strategy. Controlled from our Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Berlin, and using the latest innovations in manufacturing technology, we operate a growing number of edge manufacturing locations. Situated close to significant centres of demand, each location can produce the entire product range as needed, shortening supply chains, reducing freight costs, and supporting domestic skills growth across the value chain.

Reducing environmental impact

SoftIron is growing and evolving rapidly as an organisation and we are continuously looking at ways in which we can achieve the sustainability targets we set ourselves, and support our customers and investors in achieving theirs.

Our design and manufacturing process has the biggest influence on our own sustainability goals, but for our customers, the ultra-efficient products we produce have the greatest impact. Indeed, independent analysis recently conducted on behalf of Earth Capital concluded that for every 10 PB of data storage shipped by SoftIron, an estimated 292 tonnes of CO2e is saved by reduced energy consumption alone, compared more traditional storage architectures*.

Globally distributed, locally embedded workforce

SoftIron, where possible, does not require employees to commute to a central office, reducing the impact of automobile usage and public transportation stress. In addition, we prefer to hire the top talent wherever they reside without requiring relocation, providing positive impacts on local economies by developing localised skill sets and avoiding brain drain on developing economies. Locally embedded employees, in turn, better understand our unique customers’ needs in the markets we serve and result in higher quality products and customer experiences.

Don’t just take our word for it

SoftIron investor Earth Capital invests globally in the development and deployment of clean sustainable technology. As part of their due diligence, and on an annual basis, they audit SoftIron and our processes using their Earth Dividend™ system.

The Earth Dividend™ system provides an annual measure of an investment’s Sustainable Development impact.

The 5 categories of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) themes that the Earth Dividend™ is centred around feed into 30 wider indicators which can be mapped to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Earth Dividend™ comprises a scorecard, based upon net ESG impacts and benefits. It has been developed by Earth Capital’s in-house Sustainable Development specialists following review of international global standards and published approaches to the assessment, reporting and assurance of ESG issues and performance.

Their sustainability approach requires that an internal and external assurance exercise is undertaken to verify that they are following the process. Grant Thornton undertook the external assurance and successfully completed the work in July 2021. They have provided a Statement of Assurance in accordance with ISAE 3000 which can be viewed here. Earth Capital’s SoftIron case study can be viewed here.

Read the Earth Capital Carbon Footprint assessment report of SoftIron here.

 

*Comparison assumes the use of HyperCloud as a storage cloud, deployed in similar use cases as HyperDrive would formerly had been

SoftIron is a proud supporter of the
Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance

We’re proud to be supporting to the efforts of the SDIA by contributing to several steering groups.

Established in 2019 and co-based in Germany and the Netherlands, the Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance e.V. (SDIA) is a nonprofit network of more than 80 members and partners working to catalyze the transition to a sustainable digital economy. The SDIA brings together stakeholders from across industries and fields, both public and private, to realize its Roadmap to Sustainable Digital Infrastructure by 2030. It is meant to offer a holistic, systems-thinking approach to solving the challenges facing ICT sustainability, ranging from energy supply and data centers, to fiber-optic networks and software.