Fujitsu Australia Data Centres announce a carbon offset program for customers

Sydney, March 16, 2021 - Fujitsu Australia today announced it is making carbon offset options available for customer electricity use across its six Australian data centres as part of its continued commitment to sustainability.

Carbon offsetting involves purchasing carbon offset units to cover the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from activities such as electricity and natural gas use or vehicle operation. The purchase of carbon offsets reduces or prevents GHG emissions to compensate for carbon emissions produced by an activity such as the power used within a data centre facility.

James Veness, Head of Portfolio, Data Centres, Fujitsu Australia, said, “Climate change is a real challenge that must be tackled with conventional and unconventional solutions. Data centre customers demand their suppliers demonstrate innovation and commitment to reducing their impact on the environment. Fujitsu is supporting customers who have committed to offsetting their emissions with this opt-in program.

“In turn, Fujitsu manages the energy-efficiency of its data centres closely to minimise both financial and environmental costs for its customers, with Fujitsu’s NABERS-rated portfolio achieving efficiency of 35 per cent higher than the market average and charting a course towards 100 per cent renewable energy in Australia. The offset option gives Fujitsu’s Australian data centre customers a new way to further reduce impacts and help meet their own environmental targets.”

Fujitsu Australia selected Qantas Future Planet as its offset provider. Qantas Future Planet is one of the largest B2B offset programs of its kind in Australia. Since 2014 they have been partnering with leading businesses to reduce environmental impacts and offset carbon emissions through projects that meet Australian and global standards, including the Verified Carbon Standard and the Gold Standard. Offset projects invest in a range of programs throughout Oceania and around the world, including rainforest regeneration projects and renewable energy finance. These projects also deliver a range of economic and social benefits to local communities, in line with Fujitsu’s continuous efforts to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

David Young, Executive Manager Sustainability and Future Planet, Qantas, said, “Qantas is delighted to welcome Fujitsu to the Qantas Future Planet program, building on a long history of sustainability collaboration between our organisations. The ICT sector is a significant electricity user and forecasts continued growth. Carbon offsets can help play a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact of increased electricity consumption. Qantas looks forward to working with Fujitsu and its customers to bring this carbon offset program to life.”

In addition to the customer data centre offering, Fujitsu will also be offsetting emissions from fuel consumed in its fleet of nearly 200 vehicles across Australia and New Zealand. The vehicles are used by field engineers who perform onsite maintenance and repair services for customers across the region.

Fujitsu’s six data centre facilities are located in Western Sydney, Homebush and North Ryde in New South Wales Noble Park in Victoria, Malaga in Western Australia, and Eight Mile Plains in Queensland. In October, Fujitsu announced a 20MW expansion to the Western Sydney facility and, in November, announced a 99.6kw solar installation at the Eight Mile Plains facility, which was performed by Bunjil Energy, a Supply Nation-certified Indigenous-owned business.

In August 2017, the Fujitsu Group’s GHG emissions reduction target from its business facilities and a part of its value chain was approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The Fujitsu climate and energy vision is the Fujitsu Group’s medium- to long-term environmental vision through to 2050, which includes bringing the Fujitsu Group’s CO2 emissions to zero. As an RE100 member, the Fujitsu Group’s commitments include hitting the target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2050, with a milestone of a 40 per cent by 2030.

All company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.