Our Commitment

PARRIIC recognises the urgent need to address climate change and environmental sustainability. As a digital services provider, we are committed to minimizing our environmental impact and supporting sustainable practices in the cultural heritage sector.

Our Approach

Digital-First Operations

Our business model is inherently low-impact:

• Paperless operations: We conduct business digitally wherever possible, minimizing paper use
• Remote collaboration: Most client work is conducted remotely, reducing travel-related emissions
• Cloud-based tools: We use digital collaboration tools rather than requiring in-person meetings
• Digital deliverables: Where appropriate, we recommend digital publications and resources over print

Responsible Infrastructure Choices

We make considered choices about our digital infrastructure:

• EU-based hosting: Our website and email services are hosted with Hostinger on servers located in France, with backup in Lithuania—both within the EU
• Data sovereignty: Keeping data within the EU reduces international data transfers and supports regional sustainability standards
• Energy-efficient providers: We select service providers committed to energy efficiency and, where available, renewable energy

Sustainable Service Delivery

Open Source Advocacy

Our focus on open source software supports sustainability:

• Reduced waste: Open source eliminates software obsolescence and forced upgrade cycles
• Longer system life: Open platforms can be maintained and updated indefinitely without vendor dependency
• Resource efficiency: Organizations avoid duplicate licensing costs, redirecting resources to their core missions
• Shared infrastructure: Open source communities share development resources rather than duplicating effort

Publication Management

In our production management services, we:

• Promote digital publishing: Advise clients on digital-first strategies where appropriate
• Sustainable print practices: When print is necessary, we work with publishers who offer sustainable options (FSC-certified paper, eco-friendly inks, local printing to reduce shipping)
• Print-on-demand: Recommend print-on-demand models to reduce waste and overproduction
• Accessible digital formats: Ensure digital publications are accessible, reducing need for multiple format productions

Travel and Meetings

We minimize environmental impact from travel:

• Remote-first approach: Most projects can be conducted entirely remotely
• Virtual meetings: We use video conferencing for consultations, training, and collaboration
• Consolidated travel: When site visits are necessary, we plan efficiently to minimize trips
• Public transport: Where practical, we use public transport for necessary travel
• Local focus: Working primarily with EU-based organizations reduces long-distance travel needs

Supporting Client Sustainability

We help our clients advance their own sustainability goals:

• Digital collections: Implementing digital repositories reduces physical storage needs and improves accessibility
• Efficient cataloguing: Well-structured metadata reduces duplication of effort and resources
• Remote access: Digital platforms enable researchers to access collections remotely, reducing their travel needs
• Preservation through digitization: Digital preservation can reduce physical storage requirements and handling of fragile materials

Long-Term Thinking

Cultural heritage work is inherently about the long term. We support:

• Sustainable digital preservation: Implementing systems with long-term viability
• Open standards: Using open, well-documented standards that don’t lock clients into proprietary formats
• Capacity building: Training client staff reduces ongoing dependency and resource consumption
• Thoughtful technology choices: Recommending mature, stable solutions over constantly changing platforms

Continuous Improvement

We recognize that sustainability practices must evolve. We commit to:

• Regular review: Assessing our environmental impact and identifying improvements
• Staying informed: Keeping up to date with sustainable practices in digital services
• Measuring impact: Where practical, monitoring and reducing our carbon footprint
• Transparent communication: Being honest about our environmental impact and progress

Areas for Development

We acknowledge areas where we can improve:

• Carbon measurement: Developing better methods to measure and offset our digital carbon footprint
• Supplier assessment: More systematically evaluating the environmental credentials of our service providers
• Client guidance: Expanding our advice on sustainable digital practices for cultural heritage organizations

Collaboration

We believe environmental sustainability requires collective action. We:

• Support sector-wide initiatives for sustainable digital heritage
• Share knowledge and best practices with colleagues and clients
• Collaborate with organizations working toward environmental goals
• Advocate for sustainable approaches in professional networks

Contact

For questions about our environmental practices or to discuss sustainability in your digital heritage project:

PARRIIC
Email: parriic@parriic.eu
Website: https://parriic.eu