Today, working in the digital field means more than just designing beautiful or functional websites. It means taking responsibility for what we put online – for people and for the planet. Two key approaches are at the heart of this responsibility: web accessibility and eco-design. While they’re often treated as separate topics, I’ve come to see them – based on my experience as a web accessibility specialist – as deeply connected and complementary.
Accessibility: creating a web for everyone
Web accessibility is about making sure digital products and services are usable by all — including people with disabilities, the elderly, or anyone experiencing situational limitations.
It’s not only a legal obligation in many countries — it’s also a human right. Making a website accessible improves usability for everyone and shows that we care about inclusion and equity.
We’re talking about things like:
- Clear structure and headings
- Keyboard navigation
- Descriptive links and buttons
- Screen reader compatibility
These improvements don’t just help people with disabilities — they make the experience better for everyone. Accessibility is one of the most concrete ways to bring social values into the tech world.
Eco-design: reducing the digital footprint
On the other side of the equation, there’s digital eco-design — a practice that focuses on reducing the environmental impact of digital services, from the design phase all the way through to end use.
Did you know that most of the emissions from a smartphone happen before you even unbox it? Manufacturing digital devices accounts for up to 78% of their total environmental footprint.
Here are a few more eye-opening numbers from recent French studies:
- 2.5% of France’s carbon footprint is due to digital technologies — more than the waste sector.
- 10% of annual electricity consumption comes from digital services.
- The average French person’s digital usage is like running a 1000W heater non-stop for a month.
Clearly, we need to be smarter about what we build, and how we build it.
Why accessibility and eco-design should go hand in hand
Too often, teams approach accessibility and eco-design separately, but they’re both part of the same bigger picture: a more responsible and sustainable digital world.
Here’s how they align:
| Accessibility | Eco-design |
|---|---|
| Ensures equal access for users | Reduces energy and resource use |
| Improves clarity and usability | Speeds up loading and performance |
| Required by law in many sectors | Encouraged by sustainability laws |
| Social impact | Environmental impact |
By combining both, we can design websites and apps that are inclusive, efficient, and future-ready.
The European perspective
This isn’t just a French issue — the whole EU is moving forward with strong policies around digital responsibility.
Accessibility
- The European Accessibility Act, coming into force in 2025, will require that many digital products and services (like e-commerce, e-books, banking, and transportation platforms) meet WCAG 2.2 standards.
Sustainability
- The European Green Deal sets the ambitious goal of climate neutrality by 2050, including digital carbon reduction.
- The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) will soon enforce product durability, efficiency, and repairability — even for software-based services.
These initiatives show that accessibility and sustainability are not just values — they’re the future of digital regulation and innovation.
What can we do
Start small. Think big. Here’s how we can all contribute:
For accessibility:
- Test your pages with screen readers (like NVDA or VoiceOver)
- Use tools like Accessibility Insights or WAVE
- Follow the WCAG guidelines from the start
For eco-design:
- Use performance tools like EcoIndex or PageSpeed Insights
- Reduce heavy scripts, unused code, and oversized images
- Choose green hosting providers and efficient frameworks
Rely on reference frameworks like:
- RGESN v2 (France)
- RWEB from GreenIT
- Ethical Design Guides
- Collectif Green IT resources
Every time someone books a ticket, reads an article, or fills out a form online, they interact with decisions we’ve made as digital professionals. Let’s make those decisions count. By integrating accessibility and eco-design, we build not only smarter digital products — but a fairer, cleaner, and more responsible future.
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