Renforcer l'action de l'UNICEF Suisse et Liechtenstein grâce à un hébergement plus écologique : un partenariat à long terme pour le développement durable

Challenge

UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein needed to align its IT operations with its sustainable development mission. Moving to a Swiss data center reduced carbon emissions and met data localization requirements. The goal was to reduce environmental impact, ensure data security in Switzerland, and maintain reliable performance.

Solution

In partnership with Upsun, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein migrated to Swiss data centers powered by renewable energy (CO₂ emissions as low as 80 to 90 mg per kWh*). The solution included enhanced security via Cloudflare (which integrated easily and seamlessly with the Upsun solution), an intuitive management interface, and seamless scalability for digital operations.

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Results

Reduced carbon footprint: Migrating to Swiss data centers with Upsun, a Greenly-certified provider subject to annual sustainability audits, reduced UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein's environmental impact, with CO₂ emissions reduced by up to 15 times by switching to a low-carbon network.

Operational efficiency: Simplified management freed up resources for core tasks. Enhanced security: Robust protection ensured data security and sovereignty.

Mission Impact: Cost and energy savings were reinvested into UNICEF initiatives, amplifying their impact on children around the world.

Note: This case study was originally published under the Platform.sh brand. It has been republished (updated) to reflect our new name, Upsun. All findings and conclusions remain unchanged.

A mission rooted in responsibility

For UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, ensuring a sustainable future for children has always been at the heart of its mission: protecting the rights of every child in more than 190 countries and territories. But as the digital landscape became more critical to their operations, they faced a growing challenge: they had no visibility into the carbon footprint of their existing infrastructure or their other sustainability-related data in the cloud. Hosting their digital operations in legacy data centers outside of Switzerland posed significant environmental, data sovereignty, and operational challenges.

It wasn't just about maintaining performance and security. It was about rethinking their infrastructure to better align it with the global sustainability mission they champion every day.

Sustainability and sovereignty in the IT field

UNICEF Switzerland engaged its web agency, MD Systems, to examine the carbon footprint of its web application and assess possible improvement measures. A gradual performance optimization could improve the application's resource utilization by 20%. The existing hosting, which has a high carbon footprint, was identified as the measure with the greatest leverage. The move to a more efficient and environmentally friendly data center.

The question wasn't just where to host their infrastructure, but also how to approach the transformation. Should they completely refactor their applications for a new hosting model or migrate to a modern, environmentally friendly platform that would minimize disruption?

A seamless migration to greener hosting

After careful evaluation, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein chose to build on their existing partnership with Upsun and adopt a migration-led approach. This strategy enabled them to move their digital operations from their legacy data centers in Dublin to Swiss data centers powered by a high-renewable energy mix (a mix that includes some nuclear power and other gray energy), significantly reducing their carbon footprint while ensuring data sovereignty and high performance.

Unlike a complete application overhaul, which would have required significant time, resources, and potential disruption, the migration allowed UNICEF to quickly and efficiently achieve its sustainability goals. By moving their infrastructure from one Upsun region to another, they were able to improve their sustainability profile while maintaining business continuity.

Main features of migration:

An environmentally friendly infrastructure: hosted in Swiss data centers powered by renewable energy, with CO₂ emissions as low as 80 to 90 mg per kWh, well below industry benchmarks.

Enhanced security: Advanced security measures, including integration with Cloudflare, provided UNICEF with robust protection and compliance with sovereignty requirements.

Operational efficiency: A user-friendly management interface enabled faster updates and localization, allowing UNICEF to respond more quickly to regional needs.

Transforming challenges into opportunities

1. Reducing carbon footprint

Migrating to Upsun's greener hosting solution helped UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein significantly reduce the environmental impact of its digital operations. With Swiss data centers powered by renewable energy, this transition reinforced their commitment to the global Sustainable Development Goals.

2. Operational efficiency

The Upsun platform simplified website management, saving valuable time and resources. With faster deployment cycles and easier localization capabilities, the UNICEF team was able to focus on its core missions rather than IT tasks.

3. Cost reduction and reinvestment

Energy-efficient housing has reduced operational costs, allowing UNICEF to reinvest these savings in its core initiatives. These efficiencies have strengthened its ability to deliver essential services to children around the world.

4. Data sovereignty and security

Hosting in Switzerland ensures compliance with local regulations, while Cloudflare integration strengthens cybersecurity measures, essential for protecting sensitive donor and recipient data.

A partnership based on innovation and shared values

For over five years, Upsun has been a trusted partner of UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, fostering innovation and sustainability. The recent migration marked an important milestone, but it is just one chapter in a long-term collaboration based on shared values.

Manfred Ruf, IT Manager at UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, said: “The partnership with MD Systems and Upsun has consistently exceeded our expectations. Their innovative solutions and greener hosting practices have advanced our sustainability goals and allowed us to focus more fully on our core mission of improving the lives of children.”

Refactoring or Migration: The Smart Choice for Sustainability

While redesigning applications for a new hosting environment can sometimes be necessary, Upsun's approach demonstrated the value of strategic migration. By leveraging their existing infrastructure and moving it to a sustainable platform, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein avoided unnecessary complexity and disruption.

This approach highlights an important lesson for organizations: achieving sustainability goals doesn't always require starting from scratch. With the right partner, you can modernize your operations while maintaining continuity.

Leadership in Green IT

UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein's move to greener accommodation sets an example for nonprofit organizations around the world. By partnering with Upsun, a B Corp certified company and gold medalist from EcoVadis and Greenly, they have demonstrated that sustainability and operational excellence can go hand in hand.

“By migrating to Swiss data centers powered by renewable energy, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein has significantly reduced its carbon footprint, aligning its digital operations with its global sustainability mission.” –Manfred Ruf

An impact that goes beyond IT

The benefits of this partnership extend beyond its environmental impact. By aligning its IT operations with modern donor values, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein has strengthened its engagement with stakeholders and donors who increasingly value sustainability. Savings from energy-efficient hosting have been reinvested in programs that directly benefit children, creating a positive ripple effect.

Outlook

UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein and Upsun are not only adapting to a greener future, they are actively leading the way. Together, they continue to explore innovative solutions to reduce their environmental impact and inspire other organizations to adopt sustainable IT practices.

“The partnership with Upsun has exceeded our expectations, enabling us to progress towards our sustainability goals while focusing on improving the lives of children around the world.” –Manfred Ruf

UNICEF bases its commitment on the principles of tolerance, mutual understanding, solidarity, and peace among people. The children's relief organization opposes all forms of discrimination, is politically and religiously independent, and works to improve the lives of children in developing countries. Learn more about UNICEF and how to donate.

*CO₂ emissions as low as 80-90 mg per kWh on average over a 12-month period.

Source: https://upsun.com/fr/blog/unicef-suisse-migration-plus-verte/

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