Digital Futures category
The University of Tasmania has developed a sector-leading digital futures sustainability model that embeds environmental and social impact directly into digital systems, decisions and behaviours. The initiative moves beyond isolated projects by integrating sustainability across the digital ecosystem, from IT asset lifecycle management to responsible AI use and low-carbon digital marketing.
By embedding sustainability into digital platforms, AI guidance frameworks and marketing technologies, the University enables real-time, data-informed decision-making at scale. In 2025, the model diverted 728 devices from landfill, avoided 3.9 tonnes of e-waste, recovered around $31,000 in asset value, and reduced digital marketing emissions by 33–48%, while improving campaign performance.
Distinctively, the model links operations with behaviour change, empowering students and staff to make informed digital choices. This integrated, scalable approach demonstrates how digital transformation can accelerate sustainability outcomes across institutions and beyond.
Impacts & Benefits
- Diverted 728 devices from landfill, avoiding 3.9 tonnes of e-waste through resale, donation and responsible recycling pathways.
- Recovered around $31,000 in asset value, reinvesting funds into IT assets and reducing disposal and procurement costs.
- Reduced digital marketing emissions, achieving a 33% reduction in campaign emissions and a 48% reduction in total emissions.
- Improved marketing performance while lowering impact, including up to 84% lower cost per lead and improved campaign conversion outcomes.
- Supported digital inclusion and social value, with refurbished devices donated internationally to schools and communities in places such as Zambia and Fiji.
Leadership & Engagement
- Embedded sustainability across the digital ecosystem, connecting IT infrastructure, procurement, AI use, marketing and user behaviour.
- Created a circular IT asset lifecycle model, using ServiceNow workflows, dashboards, asset grading, resale, redeployment, donation and recycling pathways.
- Integrated sustainability into AI guidance, supporting staff and students to consider the environmental impacts of GenAI alongside ethical and responsible use.
- Led low-carbon digital marketing practice, with the Scope3 Project making UTAS the first Australian university to decarbonise digital advertising.
- Built cross-functional collaboration, involving IT Services, Marketing, Sustainability, academic teams, students and external partners.
Wider Societal Impact
- Influenced responsible digital technology use, helping staff and students understand the environmental impacts of digital tools, AI and online behaviour.
- Created a scalable model for sustainable digital transformation, relevant to education providers, government, business and other large organisations.
- Extended impact beyond campus, using international device donation programs to support digital access while extending technology lifecycles.
- Shared emerging best practice across the sector, including sustainable AI guidance through ATEM, ACTS networks and direct sharing with other universities.
- Built future workforce capability, giving graduates practical exposure to responsible technology use, lifecycle thinking and data-informed sustainability decision-making.
Top 3 learnings
Supported by
Category finalists
Digital Futures
Digital Futures
Digital Futures category
The University of Tasmania has developed a sector-leading digital futures sustainability model that embeds environmental and social impact directly into digital systems, decisions and behaviours. The initiative moves beyond isolated projects by integrating sustainability across the digital ecosystem, from IT asset lifecycle management to responsible AI use and low-carbon digital marketing.
By embedding sustainability into digital platforms, AI guidance frameworks and marketing technologies, the University enables real-time, data-informed decision-making at scale. In 2025, the model diverted 728 devices from landfill, avoided 3.9 tonnes of e-waste, recovered around $31,000 in asset value, and reduced digital marketing emissions by 33–48%, while improving campaign performance.
Distinctively, the model links operations with behaviour change, empowering students and staff to make informed digital choices. This integrated, scalable approach demonstrates how digital transformation can accelerate sustainability outcomes across institutions and beyond.
Top 3 learnings
Impacts & Benefits
- Diverted 728 devices from landfill, avoiding 3.9 tonnes of e-waste through resale, donation and responsible recycling pathways.
- Recovered around $31,000 in asset value, reinvesting funds into IT assets and reducing disposal and procurement costs.
- Reduced digital marketing emissions, achieving a 33% reduction in campaign emissions and a 48% reduction in total emissions.
- Improved marketing performance while lowering impact, including up to 84% lower cost per lead and improved campaign conversion outcomes.
- Supported digital inclusion and social value, with refurbished devices donated internationally to schools and communities in places such as Zambia and Fiji.
Leadership & Engagement
- Embedded sustainability across the digital ecosystem, connecting IT infrastructure, procurement, AI use, marketing and user behaviour.
- Created a circular IT asset lifecycle model, using ServiceNow workflows, dashboards, asset grading, resale, redeployment, donation and recycling pathways.
- Integrated sustainability into AI guidance, supporting staff and students to consider the environmental impacts of GenAI alongside ethical and responsible use.
- Led low-carbon digital marketing practice, with the Scope3 Project making UTAS the first Australian university to decarbonise digital advertising.
- Built cross-functional collaboration, involving IT Services, Marketing, Sustainability, academic teams, students and external partners.
Wider Societal Impact
- Influenced responsible digital technology use, helping staff and students understand the environmental impacts of digital tools, AI and online behaviour.
- Created a scalable model for sustainable digital transformation, relevant to education providers, government, business and other large organisations.
- Extended impact beyond campus, using international device donation programs to support digital access while extending technology lifecycles.
- Shared emerging best practice across the sector, including sustainable AI guidance through ATEM, ACTS networks and direct sharing with other universities.
- Built future workforce capability, giving graduates practical exposure to responsible technology use, lifecycle thinking and data-informed sustainability decision-making.
Supported by
Category finalists
Digital Futures
Digital Futures
