Footprints in the cloud: the hidden cost of IT infrastructure.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the hidden carbon footprint of corporate big data infrastructures and provide guidance for communicators responsible for corporate ESG and reputation. Design/methodology/approach: It is based on a subjective view of the literature on this topic, selecting relevant examples. Findings: The authors found that consciousness within corporations of the carbon footprint of their own information technology infrastructures is low and only a few companies have a strategy for identifying it. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first treatment of this subject from the perspective of the corporate owner of ESG and reputation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]