DPC invites feedback on draft Carbon Footprint Toolkit for digital preservation
Developed to support organisations in measuring the environmental impact of their digital preservation activities, the Toolkit offers a practical methodology alongside a dedicated Carbon Footprint Calculation Tool. It is designed to be accessible to organisations of all sizes, sectors and levels of experience.
The Toolkit was created by the DPC Carbon Footprint Task Force, which met regularly throughout 2025. Drawing on the DIMPACT methodology, the approach has been tailored specifically for digital preservation contexts.
Alicia Wise, Executive Director of CLOCKSS and Chair of the Task Force, highlighted the global collaboration behind the initiative, noting contributions from experts across Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States. She emphasised that the Toolkit is intended to support organisations at any stage of their sustainability journey and will continue to evolve through user feedback and real-world application.
The draft Toolkit is currently available via a public Google document, where stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments.
Call for participants
As part of the testing phase, the DPC is also seeking participants for a Carbon Calculation Support Group. This group will consist of organisations interested in applying the Toolkit to measure their own digital preservation carbon footprint.
Participation is open to both DPC members and non-members, and no prior experience in carbon accounting is required. However, participants should be able to commit to monthly meetings over a six-month period, actively test the Toolkit, and contribute case studies to inform the final release.
Expressions of interest are open until 10 April 2026.
Following the consultation and testing phase, the final version of the Toolkit is scheduled for publication in September 2026.