Taxonomy
The taxonomy part of Digital Impacts Schema and Taxonomy (DIST) is a standardised categorisation system that can be applied across multiple environment impact dimensions. It's a common approach for structuring impact estimates data, enabling comparison across different organisations and applications.
The taxonomy can be used as a stand-alone tool to support discussion or workshops for exploring the full specturm of impacts across the whole life-cycle of digital products.
It can also be used in conjunction with DIST's methodologies map and schema to produce and share detailed impact estimates.
Impact Categories
DIST's taxonomy groups impacts into three key categories:
1. Upstream Impacts
2. Operational Impacts
3. Downstream Impacts
Impact Dimensions
DIST's default taxonomy is extensible so it can be applied to multiple environmental impact dimensions. We welcome contributions to improve all aspects of this work - see get involved.
Use the buttons below to toggle between the default taxonomy and versions tailored to specific impact dimensions the DIST community have worked on.
Available impact dimensions:
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The full, default taxonomy.
Impact dimension: Default
CategoryDIST CategoryUpstream Impacts
Category UThe embodied impacts of hardware, the development of software, content & data.
Software
Hardware Manufacture, Transport and Installation
Content & Data
Operational impacts are associated with the running of business IT functions and systems. Each operational function may have a hybrid of IT infrastructure across direct and/or indirect impacts.
Direct
Category ODirect running costs that are attributed to directly operating servers, networks and devices.
Indirect
Category CIndirect running impacts that are attributed to external hardware and service solutions.
Downstream Impacts
Category DImpacts associated with the use of products and services produced by the business.
End Use (B2B, B2C)
Out of Scope
People, Buildings and TravelLicensed via BY-SA 4.0
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A tailored view of the taxonomy to support categorising carbon emission impacts.
Use this in conjunction with the carbon methodologies map and schema to estimate and share your digital estate's carbon emission information.
Impact dimension: Carbon
CategoryDIST Category1/2/3GHG Protocol ScopeUpstream Impacts
Category U3The embodied impacts of hardware, the development of software, content & data.
Software
Hardware Manufacture, Transport and Installation
Content & Data
Operational impacts are associated with the running of business IT functions and systems. Each operational function may have a hybrid of IT infrastructure across direct and/or indirect impacts.
Direct
Category O2Direct running costs that are attributed to directly operating servers, networks and devices.
Indirect
Category C3Indirect running impacts that are attributed to external hardware and service solutions.
Downstream Impacts
Category D3Impacts associated with the use of products and services produced by the business.
End Use (B2B, B2C)
Out of Scope
People, Buildings and TravelLicensed via BY-SA 4.0
-
The DIST community are currently working to map the default taxonomy to water impacts.
If you would like to contribute, please see the get involved page.
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The DIST community are currently working to map the default taxonomy to human health impacts.
If you would like to contribute, please see the get involved page.