Sustainable digital platforms are built to last
For us, sustainability is not a bolt-on or a checklist. It’s about making responsible decisions that reduce harm, increase inclusion, and create platforms that remain useful, accessible, and affordable over time. For people, institutions, and the planet.
Accessibility and sustainability are inseparable
When websites are designed to be usable by a wide range of people, including those using assistive technologies, older devices, or slower connections, they tend to be simpler, more resilient, and longer-lived. The same decisions that improve accessibility often reduce unnecessary complexity, performance overhead, and maintenance burden.
In higher education, this matters. Platforms that exclude people or require frequent rework create hidden costs of social, organisational, and environmental. We treat accessibility as a foundational part of sustainability, not a separate concern.
How we build more sustainable digital platforms
We approach sustainable web development pragmatically. Rather than chasing trends or making absolute claims, we focus on decisions that have clear, lasting benefits.
This includes:
- Designing platforms that can evolve gradually, rather than forcing disruptive rebuilds every few years.
- Choosing the simplest architecture that meets real needs, and avoiding unnecessary technical overhead.
- Reducing page weight, avoiding wasteful patterns, and choosing hosting environments that support efficient operation.
- Platforms that are understood, documented, and owned are far less likely to decay or be abandoned.
10 Degrees contributed to the development of the Web Ecosystem Sustainability Guidelines (wesg.earth), which reflect this broader view of sustainability across social, environmental, and economic dimensions. These principles align closely with how we already work in practice.
Where relevant, we also consider how our work supports institutional commitments such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly around inclusion, education, responsible consumption, and long-term resilience.
Our commitment to reducing digital impact
We believe responsibility includes understanding and mitigating the environmental impact of our work and not just optimising code after the fact. For each significant piece of work we take on, we:
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Estimate the carbon impact of the work involved
We calculate the emissions associated with the design, development, and delivery of a platform or system, based on the scope and duration of the work. -
Share this openly with our clients
We include this information as part of our commercial documentation, so environmental impact is visible and considered alongside cost, scope, and risk. -
Take responsibility for offsetting that footprint
We fund verified carbon avoidance and restoration projects via Ecologi to balance the emissions associated with the work. -
Help reduce impact over the life of the platform
Beyond delivery, we provide guidance on hosting, performance, and design decisions that help keep emissions lower as platforms evolve and grow.
This approach reflects our belief that sustainability should be measured, transparent, and ongoing.
Running a small business responsibly
What we build, and how we operate as a business underpin our sustainability approach. 10 Degrees is run as a small, focused practice to reduce unnecessary overhead and encourage deliberate and accountable decision-making. This allows us to:
Work with clients whose values align with our own
Avoid extractive or short-term delivery models
Collaborate with trusted partners rather than scaling indiscriminately
Remain transparent about trade-offs and limitations
We aim to be realistic and honest about our impact. We don’t claim perfection but we do take responsibility for the choices we make, and we’re open about learning and improving over time.