Eco-design
at MobileThinking

Introduction

You're beginning to know us... at MobileThinking, we love a challenge 💪

But some are closer to our hearts than others. Building a more responsible, less greedy and more conscious digital world is clearly one of them.

Why?

Because we're developers, designers, techies... but first and foremost, human beings. Because we belong to a generation that can no longer act ‘as if’. Because behind every website, every line of code, there are servers running, data being transferred and energy being consumed.

And that energy leaves a trace...

On average, an ordinary person in Europe generates more than 350 kg of CO₂* every year through their digital usage alone.

Streaming, cloud, browsing, data transfers... The environmental impact of digital technology is definitely real, but often invisible.

Waiting for legislation to change or for the market to impose greener standards would be a mistake.

The right time to act is now. And that's exactly what we've chosen to do, collectively and concretely.

* is equivalent to 2,100 km travelled in a combustion-powered car 🚗, or 2 round trips between Geneva and Paris, or 300 kWh of electricity consumed 💡, or 2 months' consumption of a fridge + washing machine + computer in a conventional household.

Digital eco-design is not just a buzzword heard at conferences or on LinkedIn. It's a practical approach that aims to reduce the environmental footprint of digital services right from the design phase, without sacrificing performance and user experience.

In other words : code lighter, think differently, and integrate impact criteria from the very first line of thought.

And yet, in reality, few projects really incorporate this approach

But why?

Because it requires you to rethink your habits, question your technological choices, and get out of your comfort zone.

It takes time, commitment and a real desire to explore other ways of doing things. It's not always easy... but it's essential.

It was with this conviction that the idea for this latest Hackaton was born : a day dedicated to web eco-design, with a clear but ambitious objective : 👉 To improve the performance and sobriety of our own web platform.

For the occasion, we voluntarily lifted certain constraints : no client deliverables, no immediate commercial objectives. The only brief was to work together to come up with concrete solutions, using all the available approaches : generative AI, no-code, low-code, manual or tool-based audits... anything went, as long as it served the purpose.

Each team member was free to choose the subject that inspired them. Divided into small groups of 2 or 3, we explored a variety of areas :

This freedom of choice generated a positive collective energy : everyone was committed, focused and fully involved in their subject.

There was a rich exchange of ideas, and everyone contributed enthusiastically. The sharing of ideas laid the foundations for a concrete action plan, with solid ideas drawn directly from experience in the field. We can't wait to put them into practice.

This Hackaton wasn't just a workshop or an aside.
It was a real starting point for a wider approach.

It enabled us to test and question our tools, to open up some solid paths, and above all, to see just how much difference working collectively on these issues makes.

We know we have a long way to go. But this day has shown one essential thing : the motivation is there, and so is the desire. And we are more determined than ever to implement the ideas that have emerged, for ourselves, for our projects, for our customers, and for tomorrow.