Digital Cleanup Day 2026 Results Announced: 2.3 Million Gigabytes of Data Removed
386K people came together globally to clean up 2.3 million GB of unnecessary data
Digital Cleanup Day 2026 marked a major milestone in the global effort to reduce the hidden environmental cost of our digital lives. What began as an awareness initiative has now become a worldwide movement, bringing together individuals, organisations, schools, companies, and public institutions to take measurable action against digital waste.
This year, 386K participants across 44 countries took part, collectively deleting 2.3 million gigabytes of unnecessary data and preventing an estimated 932 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. These results confirm a clear shift: digital sustainability is no longer theoretical, but measurable and actionable at scale.
France sets a new benchmark
This year, France emerged as the leading country in both scale and depth of engagement.
Across the country, 1,461 Digital Cleanup events were organised by companies, schools, associations, local authorities and citizens. Around 334,000 people were engaged, with 142,968 participants taking direct action.
Their collective efforts resulted in:
29 million emails deleted
27 million files removed
9,666 mobile applications uninstalled
This amounted to an incredible 856K gigabytes of digital waste eliminated.
France also extended its impact beyond the digital space. As part of the campaign, 3000+ electronic devices were repaired, reused, or donated, and 289 tonnes of electronic waste were collected and responsibly processed.
All in all, Digital Cleanup Day France achieved an estimated 645 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided.
A global shift from awareness to action
Across continents, participation has continued to be strong, with widespread engagement from Spain, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Mongolia, and many other countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas.
The 2026 edition highlighted a transition from awareness to action. Individuals and institutions are actively reducing digital pollution through cleanups, structured programs, and long-term digital habits.
The hidden cost of digital life
Digital Cleanup Day 2026 reinforces a key reality that’s often overlooked: digital activity has an environmental footprint. Every unused email, duplicate file, or forgotten application continues to consume energy through data centres operating continuously.
By removing 2.3 million gigabytes of data, participants directly reduced unnecessary digital storage demand. The estimated 932 tonnes of CO₂ emissions avoided annually highlights how local and global actions together create measurable climate impact.
A movement that continues to grow
Digital Cleanup Day 2026 demonstrates that collective digital action can scale globally and deliver measurable environmental results. What started as a symbolic initiative is now evolving into a structured framework for digital responsibility and climate awareness.
As digital consumption continues to rise worldwide, the message becomes increasingly clear: sustainability is not only about the physical world, but also about the data we create, store, and forget.
The results of this year’s edition confirm strong engagement and sustained global action on this important and growing issue.
See you for Digital Cleanup Day 2027. Let’s go even further.