Why Using Links Reduces Environmental Impact

Did you know that email attachments have a significantly larger carbon footprint than using cloud‑based links? Here’s why.

  • Attachments dramatically increase energy use. A standard email emits about 0.3 grams of CO₂, but adding a large attachment can raise that to up to 50 grams — a 166× increase because the file must be transmitted, processed, duplicated and stored across multiple servers.
  • They require more storage and cooling in data centers. Data centers already account for 1–2% of global electricity consumption and 2–3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, comparable to the airline industry. Storing multiple copies of attachments compounds this demand.
  • Redundant copies multiply the footprint. Attachments generate multiple stored versions (sender, recipient, backups, archives) whereas a link points everyone to one file.

Sharing via links is an internal‑only best practice. It works inside MCI USA’s secure environment but doesn’t extend to external partners or clients who may need traditional attachments.

Save the Date – April 21

The Sustainability Champions will host a lunch and learn focused on environmental sustainability Tuesday, April 21. Calendar invite and details will be available soon.

Women’s History Month:
Women Leading Environmental Change

In honor of Women’s History Month, we wanted to highlight some women who have led the environmental movement.

Wangarĩ Maathai

Founder of the Green Belt Movement and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, she led a grassroots effort that resulted in the planting of over 50 million trees across Kenya and empowered thousands of women in the process. Her work remains one of the most powerful examples of community‑driven environmental restoration.

Dolores Huerta

Co‑founder of the United Farm Workers, she is widely known for her civil rights and labor leadership and she is also a powerful environmental justice advocate. Huerta’s work has long highlighted the connection between worker rights, environmental health, and community wellbeing. Her leadership continues to shape the modern environmental justice movement in the United States.

More women in sustainability you should know: 16 Female Sustainability Pioneers Who Changed the World – UCSF Campus Life Services

Women in Leadership at MCI USA 

According to a recent McKinsey “Women in the Workplace” report, women face less career support and fewer opportunities to advance, even though “decades of research show that inclusion drives better outcomes.” As the report says, “it’s associated with higher motivation and loyalty to the company, and it fuels business outcomes like productivity and innovation.”

At MCI USA, women make up 80% of leadership, a strength that reflects a long‑standing commitment to equity and representation across functions.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was “Give to Gain.” It emphasizes that when we give support, visibility, mentorship and opportunities, we collectively gain progress toward gender equity. It’s a reminder that:

  • Giving is multiplicative, not subtractive
  • Sharing knowledge and lifting each other up strengthens every team
  • When women thrive, organizations and communities rise with them

As Sustainability Champions, this theme invites us to ask: What can we give — time, ideas, resources, visibility — to help gain gender equality?

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a moment to reflect on how we foster inclusion for colleagues with disabilities and to ensure that disability is fully recognized as an essential part of our DEI&B conversation at MCI USA.

Disability shows up in many forms: intellectual and developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, sensory processing differences, neurodivergence, and mobility or accessibility needs. Because these experiences aren’t always visible, education, curiosity and intentional dialogue are key. True inclusion doesn’t come from assumptions; it grows when we actively listen, ask thoughtful questions and co‑create environments where people can contribute in the ways that work best for them.

As we honor this month, we encourage everyone to reflect on accessibility in their daily work, whether that means offering flexible communication styles, providing materials in multiple formats, or simply checking in with colleagues about what helps them thrive.

If you’d like to share your own experience, perspective or journey related to disability inclusion, the Sustainability Champions would welcome your voice. Your insights help us build a culture where everyone can participate fully and equitably.

Key Awareness Dates

Brain Injury Awareness Month

National Nutrition Month

March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day

March 3 – World Wildlife Day

March 8 – International Women’s Day

March 18 – Global Recycling Day

March 21 – International Day of Forests

March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day

March 22 – World Water Day

Become a Champion

Interested in helping lead sustainability and community impact efforts at MCI USA? Join the Sustainability Champions Network and be part of the change.

ussustainabilitychamps@wearemci.com
megan.weygandt@wearemci.com