As organizations plan for 2026, sustainability is no longer something that sits outside core IT decision-making. What was once viewed as a reporting obligation or long-term aspiration is now shaping how IT assets are procured, managed, optimized, and retired. ESG commitments are moving decisively from intent to execution, and IT leaders are expected to demonstrate measurable progress across the full technology lifecycle.
Research from Enterprise Strategy Group underscores this shift. Sustainability programs now directly influence IT purchasing decisions and supplier evaluations, signaling a fundamental change in how technology investments are assessed. In practical terms, this means ESG considerations are no longer abstract—they are operational, auditable, and closely tied to risk and resilience.
Sustainability often enters the conversation at the corporate level, framed around climate targets, governance principles, or social responsibility. But for IT organizations, these commitments are realized or undermine the asset level. Every endpoint, server, network device, and piece of infrastructure contributes to:
As scrutiny increases from regulators, customers, and boards, IT leaders must now account for how assets are tracked, utilized, refreshed, and retired. ESG credibility depends not only on what an organization commits to, but on how consistently those commitments are reflected in day-to-day IT operations.
This is why sustainability is increasingly influencing:
Three shifts are redefining how sustainability applies to IT assets in 2026.
High-level sustainability statements are no longer sufficient. Stakeholders expect data-backed proof, clear metrics around asset utilization, energy efficiency, emissions, and responsible disposal. IT teams must be able to demonstrate not just policy alignment, but operational outcomes.
Sustainability expectations now span the entire asset journey. It now spans:
Decisions about extending asset life, redeploying devices, or choosing certified disposal partners are becoming central to ESG performance, not secondary considerations. This end-to-end view is becoming central to ESG credibility.
Organizations increasingly expect their IT partners to:
Certifications, governance frameworks, and circular economy practices are no longer “nice to have”—they are becoming baseline requirements for trusted technology partnerships.
As sustainability expectations rise, two disciplines are proving critical to execution.
IT Asset Management (ITAM) provides the visibility needed to understand what assets exist, how they are used, and where inefficiencies or risks may lie. Effective ITAM provides the visibility needed to:
Without accurate asset data, it is nearly impossible to measure sustainability performance, control costs, or reduce unnecessary environmental impact.
Equally important is IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). End-of-life practices are now under intense scrutiny. Organizations must ensure that retired assets are:
Poor ITAD practices can quickly expose organizations to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and missed opportunities for value recovery.
This is why integrating ITAM and ITAD provides a practical approach to responsible IT asset management.
Organizations that are leading in sustainability are treating sustainability as a design principle for IT operations—not an afterthought. This means:
This integrated approach allows IT leaders to reduce environmental impact while also improving operational efficiency, audit readiness, and long-term resilience. Sustainability, when executed well, becomes a driver of smarter decisions rather than an added burden.
The analyst ESG showcase also highlights how Zones aligns its services to support customer sustainability goals across the IT asset lifecycle.
As we move forward in 2026, the message is clear: sustainability commitments must be visible in how IT assets are managed every day. Leaders who fail to align ESG goals with lifecycle execution may fall behind both operationally and strategically.
This analyst ESG showcase provides:
If your organization is planning IT investments, refresh cycles, or lifecycle changes for 2026, this report offers a timely, actionable perspective.
Download The State of ESG & Sustainability Commitments in IT: A 2026 Overview to understand how sustainability-driven IT asset lifecycle strategies can help you meet rising ESG expectations, reduce risk, and make better decisions for 2026 and beyond.