Tag Archives: Sustainability

A space for connection in King’s Cross

Once at the heart of the industrial revolution, today London's King’s Cross is a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. We’re proud to be part of this community, where thousands of Googlers work on products like Android and Google Business Profile that people around the world use.

We believe in the area’s future growth and potential, which is why it’s so exciting to see our newest development take shape. We’re partnering on our first ground-up development in EMEA with British designer Thomas Heatherwick and Bjarke Ingels Group. When finished, our new location will include more than one million square feet of office and ground-floor retail space, and it will be a resource not just for Googlers but Londoners, too. We want the spaces and experiences we offer to create opportunity for local people and businesses, and contribute to the culture of entrepreneurship and vibrancy of the area.

A space curated by — and for — the local community

One of the ways our ambition will come to life is via our office’s ground floor, which runs along King’s Boulevard. To ensure it meets the needs of our local area, we’re listening to residents’ and small businesses’ views and ideas through partnerships with organisations like Camden Giving, which works to end poverty and inequality in Camden, and local media startup Camdenist. We’ll continue this work to ensure the place we create is relevant and meaningful, and has a positive local impact, complementing our wider community outreach in the area.

A computer generated image showing the ground floor of Google’s new building on King’s Boulevard, with a mix of retail and office spaces, several people are pictured in the foreground.

A visualisation of King’s Boulevard featuring a mix of different shops and spaces

A mix of local makers and established and growing brands

We recently submitted plans for a redesigned ground-floor space that will include more than 250 metres of shop fronts and a flexible space for events and community use. Our ambition is to create a lively, welcoming boulevard that connects communities to an ecosystem of local makers, purpose-driven retailers, and public activities.

We plan to offer the shop units to a mix of established and growing brands, and provide support to help great ideas grow. Alongside the individual retail units, a market hall will offer a launchpad for small businesses, while a community, education and event space will host a changing programme of events all year round.

The new ground floor designs will create a more inviting, creative public space, with a series of playful tilting timber portals and varied shop fronts that each tenant can customise. The designs also incorporate more places for the public to come together — something we’ve heard is important to local residents.

A computer generated image showing the roof of Google’s new building on King’s Boulevard, workers are pictured on the terrace and the roof itself is lined with trees and plants.

Visualisation of the roof of our newest building in King’s Cross.

A sustainable and flexible workplace

We believe in the value of coming together in person to collaborate, which is why we’re continuing to invest in our offices around the world. As we transition to flexible, hybrid work, we’re introducing new workplace technologies and collaboration spaces to keep our teams connected wherever they’re working.

We’re also emphasising sustainability in all aspects of the building’s design as we work towards a carbon-free future. The kitchens and onsite equipment will be fully electric, which will allow us to track hourly energy usage and match this with local renewable energy. A system of 13,500 interconnected devices around the office will improve energy efficiency in real time, while solar shading will help regulate the building’s temperature by reducing glare from the sun. We’ve prioritised low-carbon, local materials in the construction and interior design to reduce the carbon impact of our building by 20%.

We’ll share the lessons we learn to help other businesses reduce their carbon impact too, building on our partnerships with Camden Clean Air, the Knowledge Quarter and other local groups.

As well as offering a quiet green space for breaks during the work day, a densely planted outdoor roof garden, with a rainwater irrigation system, will provide a habitat for protected species of bats and birds. We’re collaborating with the London Wildlife Trust and the borough of Camden as part of a wider initiative to protect our native species and improve local biodiversity.

How Google supports the local community today

We’re proud to partner with more than 60 grassroots charities across Camden, providing mentoring, skills training and funding to support their work. In the past two years we’ve provided virtual work experience for more than 200 students in Camden schools, and supported over a thousand local residents impacted by COVID with our Community Help Kit. We’ve built strong connections and gained incredible insights from these programmes which, together, bring the voice of local residents and businesses into our long-term plans.

Google’s community-led mentoring really had a profound effect on me and totally changed my approach to building the brand of Comic Mania. I honestly don't think I could have got better support even if I paid for it. Simone Haynes
Founder of ComicMania, a small NGO based in Camden

Our commitment to the U.K.

Our ongoing work on our King's Cross campus along with our $1 billion investment in our London Central Saint Giles office demonstrates our long-term commitment to the U.K. We‘ll keep working hard to ensure we play a meaningful role in the cities we call home.

Coming soon: More ways to repair your Pixel phone

We want you to have a great experience with your Pixel phone, and that includes easy access to high-quality and safe device repair if your phone is ever damaged. That’s why we’re working with iFixit to make it easier for independent repair professionals and skilled consumers with the relevant technical experience to access the genuine Google parts they need to repair Pixel phones.

Starting later this year, genuine Pixel spare parts will be available for purchase at ifixit.com for Pixel 2 through Pixel 6 Pro, as well as future Pixel models, in the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia and EU countries where Pixel is available. The full range of spare parts for common Pixel phone repairs — things like batteries, replacement displays, cameras and more — will be available either individually or in iFixit Fix Kits, which include tools like screwdriver bits and spudgers.

Easier, more accessible repairs

If you don’t want to make repairs yourself and would prefer professional help, you can always take your phone somewhere local to have it quickly and affordably repaired by an authorized technical expert. We already partner with independent repair providers like uBreakiFix, which has more than 750 locations across the U.S. and Canada supporting in-warranty and out-of-warranty Pixel repairs. We have similar partnerships with walk-in support providers in Canada, Germany, Japan and the U.K., with more to come. Pixel repair options are available in all countries where we sell Pixel phones.

We evaluate each new Pixel model on how easy it is to repair so we can reduce the effort, tools, parts and materials involved in the repair process. We also make training, documentation, tools and spare parts available to our authorized repair partners, and we plan on expanding this availability in the future.

We’re taking steps to expand repair options for other devices, too. We recently partnered with companies like Acer and Lenovo to launch the Chromebook repair program, helping schools find information about repairable Chromebooks and develop in-house repair programs. We also introduced Chrome OS Flex, which lets education and enterprise users repurpose old Mac or PC devices to run a version of Chrome OS alongside their Chromebook fleet. This helps users save on hardware costs, effectively recycle unused devices and manage their fleet sustainably and efficiently.

Helping you make sustainable choices

Improving repairability is an important way to help extend the life and usefulness of your phone. And it’s just one of several steps we’re taking to help you make more sustainable choices. One way we’re working toward our hardware sustainability commitments is by making sure our products can be sustainable from the start — and we incorporate that across our operations.

For example, starting in 2022, 100% of Google hardware products will include recycled materials with a drive to maximize recycled content wherever possible. Additionally, we’re enabling 100% carbon-neutral shipments of Google hardware products to and from our direct customers, as well as working to achieve Zero Waste to landfill certification in 2022 and plastic-free packaging by 2025.

To help older devices work like new and last longer, we’re committed to at least five years of security updates for the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, and at least five years of automatic security updates for Nest-connected home devices from the date we start selling them on the U.S. Google Store. We’re also providing quarterly software Feature Drops for Pixel phones, updates for Nest products and extended software updates for Chromebooks.

You also have options if you’re not sure what to do with your phone when you don’t want it anymore. In select countries, our trade-in program accepts phones from a variety of major consumer electronics brands, so you can earn credit rewards for a new Pixel and rest assured that your old phone is responsibly recycled or reused. And with our recycling program, you can mail us your old or unused devices and we’ll responsibly recycle them for you. We make efforts to reclaim or recycle parts from used or returned devices, so that they don’t end up in landfills. We’re also always researching other safe and responsible ways to help you dispose of your old and outdated electronics.

When we built the first Pixel phone just five years ago, we made a commitment to design our hardware products in a way that’s sustainable and puts our customers first. There’s more to do, including expanding our repair network and improving repairability across our products. We look forward to sharing more as we make progress on this promise.

The power of recycling: Turning searches into store visits

Recycling plays a crucial role in preserving the future of our planet — something people using Google recognize. “Recycling” has become one of the most popular Search topics, and supporting eco-conscious brands is top of mind for the 82% of consumers who have deemed sustainability a top priority.

Recycling made simpler

Businesses across the world are stepping up when it comes to making recycling more accessible for their community, but until now people looking to recycle locally have faced difficulties when identifying which stores recycle what and where.

To solve that problem, we’ve introduced the new recycling attribute that merchants can add to their Business Profiles — making it easier than ever for people to find nearby recycling points on Search and Maps.

By adding the new recycling attribute to Business Profiles, local storefronts and shops can show the recycling services they offer in just a few clicks — whether it’s for plastic bottles, electronics or glass bottles. As a result, people looking for something like “battery recycling near me” can more easily pinpoint local businesses on Search with the in-store recycling they need. Adding this information to the Business Profile, ultimately, can help these businesses to stand out.

A phone shows someone typing 'clothing recycling near me' and a listing of R:evolve comes up

Altering hems and habits: R:evolve Recycle

One business that is already using the attribute is R:Evolve Recycle, a clothing swap shop in Glasgow, Scotland. Back in 2015, a group of volunteers from South Lanarkshire, Scotland were inspired to open their first charity shop after hearing the sobering statistic that an estimated 350,000 tonnes of used clothes go to landfills in the UK each year3 . Today, customers at R:Evolve Recycle can exchange their old clothes for previously donated items, making it easier for them to make more sustainable choices.

The R:evolve Recycle team has since opened two more stores in and around Glasgow. “People are responding positively to what we're doing,” says Anne-Marie Clements, R:evolve’s volunteer development officer.

Recently, Anne-Marie updated R:evolve Recycle’s Business Profile on Google with the new recycling attribute, highlighting their business to more people actively looking for local fashion recycling services. Since opening their doors, R:evolve Recycle has prevented over 41,000 kilograms of clothes from going into landfills and saved an estimated 869.8 tonnes of carbon dioxide. ‘’Shoppers are starting to realize that you can’t just consume and then dump it somewhere else. They find us online, come into the shop and say ‘Okay, I get what you’re trying to do’, and for us that’s fantastic,” says Anne-Marie. “It really feels like we’re turning a corner and getting the next generation to think differently about the environmental impact their shopping habits can have.”

Want to help your business get discovered on Search and Maps? Learn more about Business Profile on Google, and follow these steps to add new attributes to your listing.

Taking the Living Building Challenge to the next level

When we design and build Google offices around the world, we strive to deliver on our commitment to sustainability. This means thinking about everything from reducing and diverting waste to cultivating healthy spaces and places to accelerating carbon-free energy strategies. It also means working with industry leaders to pave a path for others and push the boundary of what’s possible. The Living Building Challenge (LBC) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is one of the most ambitious green building certifications in the world. Of the largest projects ever to pursue certification through ILFI, five are Google’s workplaces — including our newest office in Sunnyvale, California.

Our collaboration with ILFI started nearly 20 years ago when we set out to combat the “new office” smell from fresh carpet and paint. As a sustainability partner for Google, this was one of my first projects: to use better materials to create the healthiest possible indoor environment. We used LBC’s Red List as a guide for what chemicals to avoid in our building products. Beyond improving the health of our indoor spaces, we also paved the way for others to purchase healthier materials. Through our purchasing power we encouraged more manufacturers to create third-party healthy material labels for their products.

Since that first project, we’ve hit more milestones with buildings across the U.S.

In 2015, we took our focus on materials to the next level with our Chicago office renovation. The 1000 West Fulton Market office renovation included 237,000 square feet of office space to build out. We expanded the reach of our Red List scope and pursued the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification. To do so, our project team reviewed every building product that was installed, procured responsibly sourced lumber, and prioritized local trade partners.

Next up was our first ground-up developments: Charleston East and Bay View in Silicon Valley. At 1.1 million square feet, Bay View is set to open this year while Charleston East, at 600,000 square feet, is nearing completion. These two buildings allowed us to work with the LBC on a scale never done before.

And finally, our newest addition to Google’s Sunnyvale campus — 237 Moffett Park Drive (237 MPD) — aspires toward a different kind of moonshot: to be the largest renovation project and the third-largest project ever certified by ILFI in the world. With this 250,000-square-foot project we are pursuing the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification, and we’ve designed the project to achieve four of the seven Petals and an LEED v4 Platinum Certification.

The entrance to a long, window-filled building. The entryway says ‘237 MPD’.

The exterior of Google new Sunnyvale office, 237 MPD.

The building was originally developed in the 1960’s as a research and development facility for one of the world’s first mainframe and supercomputer firms. We honored that legacy of innovation by transforming the existing building into a workplace that embodies regenerative design.

There are many subtle and intentional design features that make 237 MPD an exceptional space. The integrated design team created Oculus, a huge penetration cut through the roof and structure of the building that floods the interior with natural light and views. Materials are given a second chance throughout the building — from still-functioning components of the original mechanical systems to roughly 300 interior doors made with veneer from oak trees salvaged from the Mendocino complex fires of 2018. In total, 3,400 tons of waste (or 91 percent of total waste generated) was diverted from the landfill. Beyond the building, the grounds were designed with wet meadows in low-lying areas and native oak trees on higher ground to echo the region’s historical ecology, offer habitat for wildlife and reduce the demand for water.

237 MPD also looks to the future with innovative sustainability systems. A total of 5,000 on-site solar panels cover 91 percent of annual estimated energy demand. Helios, an interactive light sculpture, illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals by showing the building’s live energy data. Furthermore, captured and stored rainwater reduces potable demand for toilet flushing by 30 percent and 100 percent of irrigation demand is met by municipally-supplied recycled water. All of these design features create a workplace that is regenerative and promotes well-being, underpinned by the industry's most rigorous sustainability certification.

  • An aerial shot of a building shows an L-shaped office building with large glass windows. Outside the landscaping is made up of green shrubbery and bushes with yellow flowers spotted with coastal live oaks and divided by a paved walking path.

    Native landscaping — featuring coast live oaks — offers habitat for wildlife and reduces demand for water.

  • Inside the building there are multiple levels of seating, including amphitheater seating, a large sectional couch and small tables with chairs. The space is open and airy and punctuated with colored cushions and large potted plants. One of the walls is covered in white paneling made out of circuit boards.

    There are 31 salvaged materials scattered throughout the project. Showcased salvaged material installations include the circuit board art wall.

  • The office lobby has wood paneling on the ceiling and one wall that says 'Google Cloud' with a long reception desk made out of reclaimed redwood. In the corner a couch and two chairs are set against the backdrop of a large piece of abstract artwork.

    Salvaged materials are incorporated throughout the building, including in works by local artists as well as reclaimed redwood.

  • A wall inside a building features an installation that is made up of lines of lights that look like a sunburst. At the center is a digital screen that shows live energy data. The screen says, "Since we opened +120% energy harvested than used."

    Helios, an interactive light sculpture, quite literally illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals and shows the building’s live energy data.

  • An image of the courtyard is framed by an oval shape that looks down into the sun-filled courtyard that shows paved walkways, an outdoor staircase and landscaping.

    A new "oculus" courtyard is placed into the building's original structure, bringing daylight into previously dark areas of the building.

Our work here isn't just about pursuing certification on bigger and bigger projects, it’s also about showcasing what is possible in regenerative building today as an inspiration to drive progress. In 2020, our 6 Pancras Square office in London became the first building in the world to be awarded a Zero Carbon certification, paving the way for a partnership between Google and ILFI to plan a volume approach to certification. In alignment to our aim to run our data centers and campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, we're exploring how we can use the ILFI Zero Carbon certification efficiently and effectively across our real estate portfolio.

As we move forward, we’ll continue to approach our built environment as not simply a space for renovation, but also as an opportunity for regeneration.

Taking the Living Building Challenge to the next level

When we design and build Google offices around the world, we strive to deliver on our commitment to sustainability. This means thinking about everything from reducing and diverting waste to cultivating healthy spaces and places to accelerating carbon-free energy strategies. It also means working with industry leaders to pave a path for others and push the boundary of what’s possible. The Living Building Challenge (LBC) by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is one of the most ambitious green building certifications in the world. Of the largest projects ever to pursue certification through ILFI, five are Google’s workplaces — including our newest office in Sunnyvale, California.

Our collaboration with ILFI started nearly 20 years ago when we set out to combat the “new office” smell from fresh carpet and paint. As a sustainability partner for Google, this was one of my first projects: to use better materials to create the healthiest possible indoor environment. We used LBC’s Red List as a guide for what chemicals to avoid in our building products. Beyond improving the health of our indoor spaces, we also paved the way for others to purchase healthier materials. Through our purchasing power we encouraged more manufacturers to create third-party healthy material labels for their products.

Since that first project, we’ve hit more milestones with buildings across the U.S.

In 2015, we took our focus on materials to the next level with our Chicago office renovation. The 1000 West Fulton Market office renovation included 237,000 square feet of office space to build out. We expanded the reach of our Red List scope and pursued the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification. To do so, our project team reviewed every building product that was installed, procured responsibly sourced lumber, and prioritized local trade partners.

Next up was our first ground-up developments: Charleston East and Bay View in Silicon Valley. At 1.1 million square feet, Bay View is set to open this year while Charleston East, at 600,000 square feet, is nearing completion. These two buildings allowed us to work with the LBC on a scale never done before.

And finally, our newest addition to Google’s Sunnyvale campus — 237 Moffett Park Drive (237 MPD) — aspires toward a different kind of moonshot: to be the largest renovation project and the third-largest project ever certified by ILFI in the world. With this 250,000-square-foot project we are pursuing the ILFI’s LBC Materials Petal Certification, and we’ve designed the project to achieve four of the seven Petals and an LEED v4 Platinum Certification.

The entrance to a long, window-filled building. The entryway says ‘237 MPD’.

The exterior of Google new Sunnyvale office, 237 MPD.

The building was originally developed in the 1960’s as a research and development facility for one of the world’s first mainframe and supercomputer firms. We honored that legacy of innovation by transforming the existing building into a workplace that embodies regenerative design.

There are many subtle and intentional design features that make 237 MPD an exceptional space. The integrated design team created Oculus, a huge penetration cut through the roof and structure of the building that floods the interior with natural light and views. Materials are given a second chance throughout the building — from still-functioning components of the original mechanical systems to roughly 300 interior doors made with veneer from oak trees salvaged from the Mendocino complex fires of 2018. In total, 3,400 tons of waste (or 91 percent of total waste generated) was diverted from the landfill. Beyond the building, the grounds were designed with wet meadows in low-lying areas and native oak trees on higher ground to echo the region’s historical ecology, offer habitat for wildlife and reduce the demand for water.

237 MPD also looks to the future with innovative sustainability systems. A total of 5,000 on-site solar panels cover 91 percent of annual estimated energy demand. Helios, an interactive light sculpture, illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals by showing the building’s live energy data. Furthermore, captured and stored rainwater reduces potable demand for toilet flushing by 30 percent and 100 percent of irrigation demand is met by municipally-supplied recycled water. All of these design features create a workplace that is regenerative and promotes well-being, underpinned by the industry's most rigorous sustainability certification.

  • An aerial shot of a building shows an L-shaped office building with large glass windows. Outside the landscaping is made up of green shrubbery and bushes with yellow flowers spotted with coastal live oaks and divided by a paved walking path.

    Native landscaping — featuring coast live oaks — offers habitat for wildlife and reduces demand for water.

  • Inside the building there are multiple levels of seating, including amphitheater seating, a large sectional couch and small tables with chairs. The space is open and airy and punctuated with colored cushions and large potted plants. One of the walls is covered in white paneling made out of circuit boards.

    There are 31 salvaged materials scattered throughout the project. Showcased salvaged material installations include the circuit board art wall.

  • The office lobby has wood paneling on the ceiling and one wall that says 'Google Cloud' with a long reception desk made out of reclaimed redwood. In the corner a couch and two chairs are set against the backdrop of a large piece of abstract artwork.

    Salvaged materials are incorporated throughout the building, including in works by local artists as well as reclaimed redwood.

  • A wall inside a building features an installation that is made up of lines of lights that look like a sunburst. At the center is a digital screen that shows live energy data. The screen says, "Since we opened +120% energy harvested than used."

    Helios, an interactive light sculpture, quite literally illuminates the building's Net Zero Energy goals and shows the building’s live energy data.

  • An image of the courtyard is framed by an oval shape that looks down into the sun-filled courtyard that shows paved walkways, an outdoor staircase and landscaping.

    A new "oculus" courtyard is placed into the building's original structure, bringing daylight into previously dark areas of the building.

Our work here isn't just about pursuing certification on bigger and bigger projects, it’s also about showcasing what is possible in regenerative building today as an inspiration to drive progress. In 2020, our 6 Pancras Square office in London became the first building in the world to be awarded a Zero Carbon certification, paving the way for a partnership between Google and ILFI to plan a volume approach to certification. In alignment to our aim to run our data centers and campuses on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, we're exploring how we can use the ILFI Zero Carbon certification efficiently and effectively across our real estate portfolio.

As we move forward, we’ll continue to approach our built environment as not simply a space for renovation, but also as an opportunity for regeneration.

Google.org Fellows help small businesses fight climate change

Helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cut down their carbon emissions is a vital step towards tackling climate change. 90% of emissions from large corporations can be traced to SMEs that play key roles in the creation of products and services.

However, most SMEs do not have the resources to measure and manage their emissions. In a recent survey by the SME Climate Hub, 63% of respondents said they did not feel they have the right skills to take the appropriate climate action.

Normative, a company based in Sweden who has developed the world's first carbon accounting engine, has been taking on this challenge by helping businesses calculate their climate footprints. Over the past 6 months, a team of 12 Google.org Fellows, comprising software engineers, UX designers and product managers from different Google offices across the globe came together with Normative to help build a carbon calculator for SMEs.

The Business Carbon Calculator will be available for free, from today, to businesses through the UN-backed SME Climate Hub.

Gif of Business Carbon Calculator

With this tool, SMEs will be able to measure their carbon footprint and identify emission hotspots, including direct and indirect emissions. This data will give SMEs a great starting point to define their own sustainability plans and map appropriate actions to cut down on their emissions.

Prior to the official launch of the tool, 123 organizations have used the tool during a 2-week long beta program and tracked a total of 54,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. This is comparable to CO2 emissions from burning 26 tons of coal.

We first supported Normative’s work through a €1M euro Google.org Impact Challenge on Climate. The team and vision were so impressive that we decided to deepen this relationship by bringing our people alongside our philanthropy through a Google.org Fellowship — it felt like a natural next step.

And so a team of Googlers worked full-time on an area they were extremely passionate about. Gabriella Araújo, a Product Marketing Manager in London, shared,

“It was fantastic to work on climate tech. I had been involved in sustainability projects at Google on the side. And working full time on climate was an incredible opportunity. I worked across different areas of the launch- I was close to product development and loved thinking about different ways to bring a carbon accounting tool to SMEs. I'm very proud of what we've built and I know this will add real value for small businesses on their race to zero.”

The challenge of slowing down climate change is a large one. We hope that the carbon calculator, along with the resources on the SME Climate Hub, will encourage SMEs all over the world to start their journey towards making their businesses more sustainable and resilient.

Google.org Fellows help small businesses fight climate change

Helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cut down their carbon emissions is a vital step towards tackling climate change. 90% of emissions from large corporations can be traced to SMEs that play key roles in the creation of products and services.

However, most SMEs do not have the resources to measure and manage their emissions. In a recent survey by the SME Climate Hub, 63% of respondents said they did not feel they have the right skills to take the appropriate climate action.

Normative, a company based in Sweden who has developed the world's first carbon accounting engine, has been taking on this challenge by helping businesses calculate their climate footprints. Over the past 6 months, a team of 12 Google.org Fellows, comprising software engineers, UX designers and product managers from different Google offices across the globe came together with Normative to help build a carbon calculator for SMEs.

The Business Carbon Calculator will be available for free, from today, to businesses through the UN-backed SME Climate Hub.

Gif of Business Carbon Calculator

With this tool, SMEs will be able to measure their carbon footprint and identify emission hotspots, including direct and indirect emissions. This data will give SMEs a great starting point to define their own sustainability plans and map appropriate actions to cut down on their emissions.

Prior to the official launch of the tool, 123 organizations have used the tool during a 2-week long beta program and tracked a total of 54,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. This is comparable to CO2 emissions from burning 26 tons of coal.

We first supported Normative’s work through a €1M euro Google.org Impact Challenge on Climate. The team and vision were so impressive that we decided to deepen this relationship by bringing our people alongside our philanthropy through a Google.org Fellowship — it felt like a natural next step.

And so a team of Googlers worked full-time on an area they were extremely passionate about. Gabriella Araújo, a Product Marketing Manager in London, shared,

“It was fantastic to work on climate tech. I had been involved in sustainability projects at Google on the side. And working full time on climate was an incredible opportunity. I worked across different areas of the launch- I was close to product development and loved thinking about different ways to bring a carbon accounting tool to SMEs. I'm very proud of what we've built and I know this will add real value for small businesses on their race to zero.”

The challenge of slowing down climate change is a large one. We hope that the carbon calculator, along with the resources on the SME Climate Hub, will encourage SMEs all over the world to start their journey towards making their businesses more sustainable and resilient.

Two new pledges to reduce food loss and waste at Google

As food makes its way from farms and factories to store shelves and dining tables, nearly one-third of it ends up lost or wasted along the way. All that unused food negatively impacts the planet — it makes up eight percent of the world’s carbon footprint and is the food system’s largest source of carbon emissions.

To protect our planet and keep it healthy, we need to collectively cut back on food waste — for us at Google, that means doubling down on our efforts to reduce waste in our kitchens and cafes. By 2025, we aim to cut food waste in half for each Googler and send zero food waste to the landfill. To do so, we’ll prevent waste during food sourcing and procurement, improve our kitchens and cafes, and make sure excess food is repurposed or disposed of properly.

Preventing waste before it happens

Our food team serves hundreds of thousands of meals each day to Googlers across 56 countries. To prevent food waste before those delicious ingredients ever reach our kitchens, we work closely with manufacturers, processors, suppliers and distributors.

One way we’ve done this is by sourcing produce from farms that is imperfect and would otherwise be tossed — like a misshapen carrot or an apple that is slightly blemished, but still delicious. We also buy from creative businesses that make food products from upcycled ingredients — like broth made from vegetable trimmings from a processing plant.

To help the entire food system reduce food waste in their own operations, Google is also working with agricultural and food service partners to improve supply chain transparency, traceability and data tracking. For example, an early-stage team from X, an Alphabet subsidiary, worked closely with Kroger and Feeding America®️ to explore and analyze supply chain datasets using Google Cloud technology. With more data and transparency into the supply chain we can make sure excess food goes toward a better use like feeding people who need it, instead of going to a landfill.

Rethinking our kitchens and cafes

Shutting down our offices and pausing food services at the beginning of the pandemic gave us the space to think bigger about how we can sustainably support a growing global workforce.

Now that food is back on the table at Google, we’re continuing to use technology to cut back on waste in our kitchen and cafe operations. For example, Leanpath is a tool that helps chefs track what food is going to waste. They can then use that data to make changes to how they prepare, cook and serve food in cafes.

Since we started measuring our kitchen food waste in 2014, these strategies have helped divert 10 million pounds of food from our kitchens and cafes from going into the landfill. That’s equivalent to eliminating 25,000 metric tons of carbon from the atmosphere or taking 5,000 cars off the road for a year.

To work toward our food waste goals, we plan to get more innovative and develop new technologies. We’ll prioritize coming up with creative menu options that turn produce that would otherwise be wasted into tasty treats — like healthy slaw made from peeled and shredded broccoli stems.

And we’re working on technologies that can help us make changes not only in our kitchens but in commercial kitchens everywhere. For example, over at X we piloted a project that uses computer vision to automatically determine what is going into our compost bins. We need more projects like this to create a smarter food system that knows where excess food is and what state it’s in so we can make sure it gets used instead of ending up in a landfill.

Being responsible with how we dispose of food

The work doesn’t stop once the food is cooked and the meal is served. We have to think about what happens to the food next— whether it’s what we do with untouched components of our meals or what’s left on a Googler’s plate. We aim to donate the excess whenever possible or ensure that it is properly composted.

Part of managing our global food program requires having a network in place so that untouched, excess food can easily be shared with food rescue partners. We’re also sharing ways that everyone at Google can do their part to reach these goals — like each of us only taking what we know we can eat. For any food product that’s ready to be tossed, we’re working to improve our waste separation systems to make sure that composting works everywhere. We’re even piloting technology that can process organic waste onsite and smart waste collection containers that can better sort trash to divert waste from the landfill.

While we’re working hard to reduce waste in our own food operations and cafes, the biggest impact will come when the entire industry works together and adopts solutions to keep food out of landfills. That’s why last year we signed onto the Food Waste Action Plan — co-led by ReFED, the premier national nonprofit advancing data-driven solutions to end food waste — to urge the federal government to adopt ambitious food loss reduction goals. To further accelerate systems transformation, Google is providing $1M as an anchor funder to the upcoming ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund with the goal of accelerating and scaling food waste solutions in North America.

As we make progress toward our food loss and waste goals, we’ll keep sharing what we learn with others in the industry. Together, we can keep our planet healthy.

This World Wildlife Day, the key word is adapt

Wolverines are stocky, energetic carnivores who resemble small bears. These animals travel up to 15 miles a day and summit peaks in the wildest lands. Currently, their habitat range includes parts of the northern U.S. and Canada where they have access to huge swaths of remote land with abundant winter and spring snowpack to build dens for their baby kits. However, like other species across the world, their habitat is at risk of shrinking due to climate change.

As entire habitats change, land managers and policymakers need to be able to make local land-use decisions that support regionally important species and ecosystems. Cloud-based mapping tools, like TerrAdapt which launched to the public today on World Wildlife Day, can help prioritize areas for conservation actions — like habitat restoration, increasing protection status, and building wildlife crossings. TerrAdapt uses satellite monitoring technology powered by Google Earth Engine and Google Cloud Platform to project habitat conditions given future climate and land-use scenarios.

Using TerrAdapt to monitor wolverines

It’s initially being developed in the Cascadia region — which spans part of Washington in the U.S and British Columbia in Canada — to model habitat ranges for species like the wolverine, as well as the fisher, grizzly bear, greater sage-grouse and Canada lynx. Working with the Cascadia Partner Forum and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, the TerrAdapt team partnered with leading wolverine biologists to model changes in the wolverines’ habitat and connectivity between 1990 to 2100.

Areas in orange and red show the shrinking of montane wet forest habitats where snow-dependent wildlife like the wolverine live, projected to 2100.

Areas in orange and red show the shrinking of montane wet forest habitats where snow-dependent wildlife like the wolverine live, projected to 2100.

According to this model, wolverines and other snow-dependent species are expected to see significant changes to their habitat — especially when climate change scenarios are factored into the mix. Looking forward to 2100, there is little remaining wolverine habitat in the U.S.

Projections of how the suitable habitat for snow-dependent species changes from 1990 to 2100 based on the amount of liquid water contained in the snowpack, or SWE, under a “business as usual” climate scenario.

Projections of how the suitable habitat for snow-dependent species changes from 1990 to 2100 based on the amount of liquid water contained in the snowpack, or SWE, under a “business as usual” climate scenario.

Conservationists are concerned we’re not adequately preparing to protect the wolverines and their habitat which is also home to other species of animals and plants. In 2020, the decision to federally list the wolverine as threatened under the Endangered Species Act was rejected on the basis that there’s still sufficient snowpack.

Moving forward, land managers and policymakers can use TerrAdapt projections to better inform decisions like this. Carly Vynne, TerrAdapt co-founder and Director of Biodiversity and Climate at RESOLVE says that TerrAdapt helps them keep these animals on the landscape. “TerrAdapt allows us to visualize future scenarios and plan management responses,” she says. “This helps make sure that our region is as resilient as possible for wolverines and the other plants, animals, and human communities that depend on our natural landscapes.”

Making decisions that benefit the planet

The ability to use findings to inform conservation decisions and policy needs to grow. Equipped with information from TerrAdapt on how our current and future land-use decisions affect our natural world, we can increase ecological resilience to climate change risks and make land-use decisions that benefit our planet.

Explore how Google’s technology, such as Google Earth Engine, is being used to help decision makers improve resilience and adapt to climate change. And learn more about how TerrAdapt is helping us plan for a positive future with wolverines in this short video.

The Chromebook repair program: A sustainable fix for schools

Did you know that using a Chromebook can help reduce your carbon footprint? In fact, Chrome OS devices made by our manufacturing partners consume up to 46% less energy than comparable devices and are designed with sustainability in mind — from their durable shells to their scratch-resistant glass. And we’ve worked with these same partners to make Chromebook components interchangeable, reusable and safely disposable.

Graphic showing two stats: “Chrome OS devices consume up to 46% less energy than comparable devices” and “Switching 1,000 devices to Chrome OS can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.”

Sustainable features like these are particularly helpful to the education world, with 50 million students and teachers using Chromebooks made by our manufacturing partners. With such a large community of Chromebook users, we want to work with our partners to build towards a more sustainable device ecosystem — starting by helping schools find information about repairable devices. Today, we’re taking the first step by creating a Chromebook repair program for schools, beginning in the United States.

Animation showing tools , with text explaining the benefits of a student-led repair program — including faster and more cost-effective repairs.

Easily find repairable devices

Many Chromebooks have been repairable for years, with some repairs already covered under system warranties and managed by authorized service providers. But it’s been challenging for school IT administrators to find information about which devices they can repair. As part of the Chromebook repair program, we’re partnering with companies like Acer and Lenovo to spotlight more Chromebooks that are repairable. On our new site, schools can easily identify which Chromebooks have commonly repaired components, like the keyboard, display and palmrest. Online manufacturer guides will also show how to repair the devices, find tools to safely fix them, get replacement parts, find training and get system update access if needed. This is just the first step, and we’re looking forward to hearing feedback to help grow and improve the program.

Start your own school repair program

Some Chromebook manufacturers, like Acer, provide training for schools to perform their own repairs. So, many schools have already created Chromebook repair programs, working alongside teachers and IT teams to repair their devices (shout-out to some of our favorite names, like “Chromestop” and “Chrome Depot”). Some even offer Chromebook repair as an elective course. In-school programs like these are not only eco-friendly, they can significantly reduce turnaround time, save on costs and help students learn valuable skills.

"Acer designs its Chromebooks for the education market with both durability and ease-of-repair in mind,” says James Vick, Vice President, Customer Service, Acer Pan America. "On campus repair programs enable students to help their own school by conducting safe and rapid repairs of Chromebooks, while also teaching them a valuable transferable skill that can help them pursue a career in the IT field. Acer supports valuable programs that give students an opportunity for hands-on learning beyond traditional curriculum.”

We’re inspired by schools around the world that are creating their own Chromebook repair programs — like Jenks Public Schools in Oklahoma, whose in-school repair service led to faster turnaround time for Chromebook repairs and stronger IT skills in graduates. To help others get started, we’ve created a playbook for setting up a Chromebook repair program in your school, with input from IT administrators. Keep an eye on our page for more resources and sustainability-focused devices best suited for a repair program.

Looking for a sustainable way to reuse other devices? Schools can also revive and extend the lifespans of PCs and Macs by converting them to deliver a Chrome OS experience using CloudReady.

Acer designs its Chromebooks for the education market with both durability and ease-of-repair in mind. On campus repair programs enable students to help their own school by conducting safe and rapid repairs of Chromebooks. James Vick
Vice President, Customer Service, Acer Pan America
Three images of students at school with Chromebooks, repairing devices and participating in a Chromebook repair program

Students at Jenks Public Schools in Oklahoma run their own student-led repair program for Chromebooks

Educate the next generation

Preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s environmental challenges is also key to our commitment to sustainability. As we aim to run on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030, we’ll continue to share Google’s best practices with the education world. And we’ll keep developing sustainability courses in our Teacher Center and through programs like Science Buddies, Your Plan, Your Planet, Google Arts & Culture Expeditions, Experiments with Google and Google Earth Education.