The SmartAlpaca approach to digital sustainability

Digital work isn’t always as clean as it looks. Websites, servers, emails, and meetings all come with a footprint, even if we don’t always see it.

At SmartAlpaca Marketing, we try to be mindful of the impact our work has - on the planet, on our time, and on the people we work with. Here’s how we approach sustainability in the way we run our business and work with clients.

Building digital foundations that last

We don’t like waste - and that includes digital waste. That’s why we focus on building marketing assets that are made to last: messaging frameworks that grow with your company, websites that stay fresh and user-friendly (even years down the line), and content strategies that support long-term goals.

We also build for performance, not just for show. Lightweight sites are faster to load, and that makes them easier on the planet: fewer megabytes means fewer emissions from data transfer and processing. One single website may not make a huge difference, but it adds up. 

Short version: we build things to last, not things you’ll have to redo next year.

Rethinking the digital footprint

Behind every website, every photo, and every video, there’s an energy cost. Hosting, processing, and transferring data all require electricity; and depending on where that electricity comes from, it can carry a hefty carbon footprint. Digital isn’t necessarily green, but it has become an important part of our daily life. 

That’s why we take digital sustainability seriously.

We host most WordPress websites with Cloudabove, a UK-based provider powered by 100% renewable energy. They're not just green on paper; they regularly review and report on their environmental impact, and we like how they pair sustainability with top-notch customer service. When Cloudabove isn’t the best fit for a client, we always try to recommend other green and sustainable providers.

We also pay close attention to other tools we use and recommend. Many developers launch software and plugins without long-term support or follow-through, and even abandon and replace those before their time. That's why we'll usually recommend premium tools that are well-supported by trusted developers.

The way we store and manage assets matters too.

• We make sure files are only saved once, not duplicates scattered in multiple folders.

• We prefer smaller files and images to oversized ones when they’ll do the job.

• We also design our websites to reuse assets efficiently, rather than uploading the same image or document multiple times.

One final note about using sustainable digital tools and software; in the tech world, greenwashing is everywhere. Sustainability badges, promises of carbon neutrality, vague commitments to “doing better”; we pay close attention and look behind the words and the PR strategy.

Choosing a lifestyle that supports conscious work

Remote work doesn’t automatically make a company more sustainable, but it can open the door to better choices. Working remotely means fewer emissions, no daily commutes, and no office buildings to heat, cool, or maintain. That alone makes a difference - but for us, it’s also part of a larger commitment to living with less and working with intention.

Each of us has built a life around what matters to us. Sandrine lives off-grid on a small olive farm, Mellissa lives in a rural village in one of Spain’s least populated regions, Sarah lives on a farm in Ireland, and Flavia slow-travels the world as a digital nomad - her entire office fits into a backpack.

Living this way lets us be more conscious about what we consume, how we spend our time, and the kind of work we take on. It also gives us the flexibility to set fair prices based on the quality of our work, not the cost of keeping up with city life. Less overhead means less pressure, and more space to do good work.

Designing workflows that respect everyone’s time

Over the years, we've developed a workflow that's smooth and efficient, because we don’t believe in dragging things out or making clients jump through hoops. We limit in-person meetings to crucial touchpoints (like a discovery visit or a messaging workshop), and everything else runs online.

• We run our meetings through a website that allows us to keep recordings, transcripts, and notes - all in one place; no additional software required

• We use Slack (mostly internally, sometimes with client teams too) to cut down on long email threads.

• We structure our projects so clients can give feedback quickly and easily,  and stay up to speed without having to manage yet another thing.

What surprises most people is how little time they end up spending on the project. We create a clear checklist of what we need from them ahead of time, so there's no need for a lot of back-and-forth and additional requests. On video calls, we know what we're looking for and ask strategic questions. And last but not least, we do our homework; including looking at what you've got already, and additional research as needed.  

This allows us to pull things together in a way that feels natural and easy, even when it’s a complicated project. 

Working with clients who care

We love working with wildlife and nature conservation organisations, but not all of our clients fall into that category. With any prospect, we look for an alignment in values; if we don't feel the prospect's company makes a positive impact on people or the planet, we reserve the right to say no - and refer them to someone we know works specifically with their industry. 

Our vision: shrinking the digital footprint

Digital will never be fully green; every click comes with a cost, even if we can’t see it. However, digital communication is a part of our daily life, and it's not going away.

That's why we try to contribute to the digital marketing industry in a way that may not erase its footprint, but we aim to shrink it where we can. We do this by making intentional choices and by helping our clients make better informed decisions as well. 

Want to know more about how we work?