Arcep and Arcom launch the Digital Ecodesign Stakeholder Forum

On May 19, one year after the publication of the general reference framework for the ecodesign of digital services (RGESN), Arcep and Arcom, in association with ADEME, brought together players from the digital ecosystem and ecodesign experts to form a new body: the Digital Ecodesign Stakeholder Forum (or "RGESN Forum").

By 2050, if nothing is done to reduce the environmental footprint of digital technology, and if usage continues to increase at the current rate, the carbon footprint of digital technology could triple compared to 2020. This also applies to audiovisual uses, which account for the equivalent of a third of the digital carbon footprint in France, and whose GHG emissions could increase by 30% by 2030 if the current pathway continues. The eco-design of digital equipment and services is within the scope of key levers to curb these trends.

Creating a multi-stakeholder body for an open, iterative approach

In May 2024, Arcep and Arcom, in conjunction with ADEME and with the collaboration of DINUM, Inria and the French national data protection agency, published the general reference framework for the eco-design of digital services (RGESN): 78 best practices are detailed to help professionals develop digital services (websites, platforms, conversational agents, etc.) that are eco-designed and, as a result, more sustainable. The deployment of the RGESN is feeding into the construction of a specific product category reference framework for audiovisual services, under the guidance of ADEME, with Arcom and Arcep. This product category standard (PCS) will lead to a common methodology for assessing the impact of these services, and an eco-design index enabling consumers to identify the eco-design level of TV services, SMADs and video-sharing platforms in a simple, educational way.

The first edition of the RGESN Forum brought together players from a wide range of backgrounds who have already adopted or wish to adopt an eco-design approach for their services: companies, independent expert audiovisual media, associations, public bodies (see schedule in appendix). Arcep and Arcom invite experts and organizations wishing to contribute to the work of the RGESN Forum and its forthcoming events (workshops, plenary sessions) to join the process (form).

Adapting the reference framework to companies' operational situations and needs

Stakeholders already involved in implementing the RGESN - SNCF, Thalès, France Télévisions and GreenSpector - presented participants with the lessons learned from this experience: the successes, but also the obstacles encountered, in order to facilitate the adoption of the RGESN.

The work of the RGESN Stakeholders' Forum should help to adjust its content in line with feedback from the field, adapt it to professional needs and technological developments, and simplify its application to make it accessible to as many companies as possible. The aim: to maintain a robust, operational and iterative reference framework. A collaborative work session was held with stakeholder companies and a group of associations and experts, to consolidate the learning acquired on the RGESN.

In addition to the RGESN, numerous initiatives exist to promote eco-design and digital sobriety, through training, purchasing policies, environmental communication and public awareness raising, notably through the diffusion of best practices and programs dealing with these subjects. The event also enabled participants to share their commitments to accelerating the environmental transition of the digital sector.

Promoting the eco-design of digital services in Europe and internationally

The eco-design of digital services is still an emerging topic, and one that is still poorly taken into account in public policies. French institutions, at the initiative of the RGESN, are promoting its deployment in European and international discussions on the environmental impact of these services. The RGESN Forum's work focuses on international diffusion. A global, multi-stakeholder approach is needed to design digital services that respect planetary limits, for the benefit of future generations.

Related documents
The general reference framework for the eco-design of digital services