ISLAMABAD: Gen Z is emerging as the generation most concerned about the environmental impact of digital infrastructure, even as it remains the most deeply immersed in technology, according to new research released by Kaspersky on International E-Waste Day.
The study found that 20% of Gen Z respondents identified environmental damage caused by digital infrastructure as a risk for future generations — the highest proportion among all age groups surveyed globally.
At the same time, nearly six in 10 Gen Z respondents, or 59%, said they felt confident operating in the digital environment, highlighting what Kaspersky described as a growing tension between heavy technology use and awareness of its environmental consequences.
Those consequences include the resources required to manufacture and replace electronic devices as well as the infrastructure needed to store, process and transmit rapidly increasing volumes of data.
The research also found that 22% of Gen Z respondents viewed overconsumption and growing levels of waste as a concern, compared with 19% of respondents overall worldwide.
Some younger consumers are also becoming familiar with more sustainable technology concepts. According to the study, 11% of Gen Z respondents selected green data centres as a promising trend for the future.
The findings suggest environmental considerations could become increasingly important for the technology industry as Gen Z gains greater influence as consumers, employees and eventually decision-makers.
Greater awareness of the environmental footprint of technology could contribute to stronger demand for more sustainable digital products and infrastructure, including more energy-efficient systems, longer device lifecycles and reduced environmental costs associated with technology manufacturing.
Kaspersky said the trend could encourage technology companies to place greater emphasis on improving the energy efficiency of digital infrastructure, reducing the environmental impact of production and extending the usable life of electronic devices.
The cybersecurity company said its own sustainability efforts include more efficient resource management, responsible electronic-waste handling and initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact of its operations.
Kaspersky also highlighted the link between cybersecurity and energy consumption, saying protection against threats such as cryptomining malware can help prevent unnecessary use of computing resources and the associated carbon emissions.
Maria Losyukova, Head of ESG and Sustainability at Kaspersky, said the findings were notable because the generation that has grown up most closely connected to digital technology is also showing the greatest awareness of its environmental costs.
“It is interesting to see that the generation that has grown up surrounded by digital technologies is also the one most likely to recognize the environmental cost of the digital world,” Losyukova said.
She cautioned that Gen Z alone was unlikely to drive a wholesale shift towards greener technology, but said its expectations could become increasingly influential.
“For the technology industry, this is a reminder that innovation should be considered not only in terms of performance and security, but also in terms of how efficiently we use resources and how we manage the lifecycle of the technologies we create,” she added.
The findings come as concerns grow globally over electronic waste, rising energy demand from digital infrastructure and the environmental footprint of increasingly data-intensive technologies.
