London tech shop GBC will launch a public affairs initiative to persuade officials and ministers that IT can play a role in reducing a company’s carbon footprint.
GBC’s campaign will start with a stakeholder group meeting in Westminster this month, followed by ongoing media relations work.
The agency’s head of public affairs Claire Levins, who heads up the Wyse account, has brought in Labour MP Alan Whitehead to lead the group. Whitehead sits on Parliament’s joint committee on the draft climate change bill and is a green campaigner. He also chairs the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group. GBC is also working with government-supported consultancy Envirowise.
Thin computing differs from traditional computing by relying on a central server. Advocates claim it cuts energy use, admin costs and noise, and increases security.
GBC will target the Government, academics and interest groups with the message that thin computer technology uses up to 90 per cent less energy than PCs. Levins said she and her team will aim to ‘break the taboo that environmentally friendly means expensive’.
GBC recently won a six-figure brief from IT security firm Trend Micro to support its rebrand (PRWeek, 27 September). GBC’s other clients include electronics company Toshiba and internet firm PacketExchange.
