Digital Cleanup Day, a global initiative led by Let’s Do It World, marked its fifth anniversary this year, with participants from across the globe uniting to reduce digital pollution. This important milestone reflects growing awareness of our digital carbon footprint—and the collective action being taken to address it.
Launched in 2020, Digital Cleanup Day was created by Let’s Do It World to tackle a largely invisible but increasingly urgent environmental issue: the carbon emissions linked to storing unnecessary digital data. What began as a call to action has since grown into a powerful global movement, inspiring individuals, businesses, and organisations to rethink their digital habits.
The concept is simple yet impactful. Participants are encouraged to delete unused files, photos, videos, and emails; unsubscribe from unwanted newsletters and services; streamline digital storage; and raise awareness about the environmental consequences of our digital activities. These small actions directly reduce energy consumption in data centres around the world, where thousands of servers run continuously to support our online lives.
While final results for this year’s campaign are still being gathered, early data indicates strong participation across multiple countries. The Let’s Do It World team is now compiling figures on the volume of digital waste removed and the estimated reduction in carbon emissions.
“We express our deepest gratitude to all individuals and organisations around the world who took part in this global day of action,” said Heidi Solba, LDIW President and Head of Global Network. “Your participation shows that small actions, when multiplied by millions, can lead to real environmental change.”
Like its physical counterpart, World Cleanup Day, Digital Cleanup Day aims to foster lasting behavioural change. Beyond the event itself, participants are encouraged to adopt better digital habits year-round—contributing to a more sustainable digital future.
As we await the final figures from this year’s campaign, one thing is certain: Digital Cleanup Day has firmly earned its place on the global environmental calendar, drawing attention to a growing part of our ecological footprint in an increasingly digital world.
To learn how you can take part and implement digital cleanup practices in your daily routine, visit the Digital Cleanup Day website.
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