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How sustainable is Facebook ?

Facebook & sustainability


Facebook
First milestones, should be better Click here for score rapport: 4 out of 16

Sustainability summary

Facebook has achieved the D-label. According to us, Facebook has started to take sustainability into account. Still, a lot more can be done.

Brand owner: Facebook Inc.
Head office: Palo Alto, California U.S.A.
Sector: Websites
Categories : Social & Share
Free Tags: Facebook Inc.

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What's your sustainability news about Facebook?

Facebook sustainability score report

Last edited: 8 January 2017 by Greg
Last reviewed: 8 January 2017 by Mario

Questions about Climate Change/ Carbon Emissions

3 out of 9
1. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to minimize, reduce or compensate carbon emissions ? Facebook Inc. (brand owner of Facebook) implements several measures to reduce its climate emissions, such as making its data centers more energy efficient and using renewable energy. Source
2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years? Facebook Inc. increased its climate footprint (Scope 1, 2 and 3) from 528,000 metric tons of CO2e in 2014 to 649,000 metric tons of CO2e in 2015, which represents an increase of about 23%. Source
3. Has the brand (company) set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of its 'own operations' by at least 20% within the next 5 years? Facebook Inc. mentions several measures to reduce energy use, but does not specify a target percentage and a target year to reduce the climate footprint of its own operations. Source
4. Is at least 10% of the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy? Facebook Inc. reports a 35% use of green energy in 2015 at its data centres (about 94% of all Facebook Inc.'s energy use), which makes about 32% for its entire operations. But, sources, types and additionality of supply are not specified clear enough. Source
5. Is at least 25% of the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 4. Source
6. Is at least 50% of the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 4. Source
7. Is 100% of the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 4. Source
8. Is the overall average Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) of the data center(s) below 1,5? Facebook Inc. gives an overall PUE value of 1.09 and declares that this is applicable to overall use of data centers. Source
9. Is the overall average Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) of the data center(s) below 1,25? See remark for carbon emissions policy question 8. Source

Questions about Environmental Policy

1 out of 5
1. Does the brand (company) publish a water and/or land use footprint and is there a policy to minimize, reduce or compensate this footprint? Facebook Inc. is tracking its water use impact, reports that its WUE (Water Usage Effectiveness) was at 0,24 in 2015 (see link, next question), and publishes its annual water footprint, which was at 221,000,000 gallons in 2015. However, compared to 2014 this represents an increase by about 22%. Source
2. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to minimize waste, by reducing, re-using and recycling, and does the brand annually report the results? Facebook Inc. does not communicate concrete information regarding efforts to minimise the impact of its waste generation. Source
3. Does the brand (company) have a corporate policy for environmentally responsible disposal of e-waste? Facebook Inc. does not communicate concrete information on a policy for safe disposal of e-waste. Source
4. Does the brand have a policy to seek out suppliers and/or service providers that conduct their business in environmentally responsible ways and does the brand provide concrete examples of this policy? Facebook Inc. mentions the use of organic food in its office kitchens or design its buildings sustainably, but does not specify reporting with regard to a clear procurement policy related to sustainability aspects. Source
5. Does the brand have a concrete environmental procurement policy for all electronics used - including servers? Facebook Inc. does not provide clear information on a procurement policy for electronic devices and servers which includes environmental criteria, such as avoidance of electronic devices which contain suspect chemical groups. Source

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

0 out of 2
1. Does the brand have a policy to seek out suppliers and/or service providers who conduct their business in more socially responsible ways and does the brand provide concrete examples of this policy? Facebook Inc. does not provide concrete information on a procurement policy for other suppliers and/or service providers which includes social criteria. Source
2. Does the brand have a concrete socially responsible procurement policy for all electronics used - including servers? Facebook Inc. does not provide clear information on a procurement policy for electronic devices and servers which includes social criteria to improve the labour conditions in the production chain, such as avoidance of electronic devices which contain conflict minerals. Source