Empowering UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein through greener hosting: a long-term partnership for sustainability

Note: This case study was initially published under the Platform.sh brand. It has been republished (updated) to reflect our new name, Upsun. All results and insights remain unchanged

A mission rooted in responsibility

For UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, ensuring a sustainable future for children has always been at the heart of its mission–to protect the rights of every child in over 190 countries and territories. But as the digital landscape became more critical to their operations, they faced a growing challenge: they did not have visibility of the carbon footprint of their existing infrastructure or data on their other cloud related sustainability attributes. Hosting their digital operations in legacy data centers outside of Switzerland posed significant environmental, data sovereignty, and operational challenges.

It wasn’t just about maintaining performance and security. It was about rethinking their infrastructure to better align with the global sustainability mission they champion every day.

Sustainability and sovereignty in IT

UNICEF Switzerland engaged their web agency MD Systems to examine the carbon footprint of the web application and evaluate measures for improvement. Incremental performance optimization could improve the resource use of the application by 20%. The legacy hosting with a high carbon footprint was identified as the measure with the greatest leverage effect. Moving the hosting to a data center with higher efficiency and greener energy.

The question wasn’t just where to host their infrastructure, but how to approach the transformation. Should they refactor their applications entirely for a new hosting model, or migrate to an eco-friendly, modern platform that could minimize disruption?

A seamless migration to greener hosting

After careful evaluation, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein chose to build on their existing partnership with Upsun, embracing a migration-first approach. This strategy allowed them to move their digital operations from their previous data centers in Dublin to Swiss data centers powered by an energy mix with a high renewable component [a mix that includes some nuclear and other grey energy], achieving a dramatic reduction in their carbon footprint while ensuring data sovereignty and high performance.

Unlike a full application refactoring—which would require significant time, resources, and potential disruption—the migration allowed UNICEF to achieve their sustainability goals quickly and effectively. By transitioning their infrastructure from one Upsun region to another they were able to upgrade their sustainability profile while preserving operational continuity.

Key features of the migration:

• Eco-friendly infrastructure: Hosting in Swiss data centers powered by renewable energy, achieving CO₂ emissions as low as 80–90 mg per kWh—far below industry benchmarks.
• Enhanced security: Advanced security measures, including integration with Cloudflare, provided UNICEF with robust protection and compliance with sovereignty requirements.
• Operational efficiency: A user-friendly management interface enabled quicker updates and localization, empowering UNICEF to respond faster to regional needs.

Turning challenges into opportunities

1. Carbon footprint reduction

Migrating to Upsun greener hosting solution helped UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein significantly lower the environmental impact of its digital operations. With Swiss data centers operating on renewable energy, the shift reinforced their commitment to global sustainability goals.

2. Operational efficiencies

The Upsun platform simplified website management, saving valuable time and resources. With faster deployment cycles and easier localization capabilities, UNICEF’s team could focus on mission-critical work rather than IT overhead.

3. Cost savings and reinvestment

Energy-efficient hosting reduced operational costs, allowing UNICEF to reinvest those savings into their core initiatives. These efficiencies amplified their ability to deliver critical services to children globally.

4. Data sovereignty and security

Hosting within Switzerland ensured compliance with local regulations, while Cloudflare integration strengthened cybersecurity measures—critical for protecting sensitive donor and beneficiary data.

A partnership built on innovation and shared values

For over five years, Upsun has been a trusted partner to UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, driving innovation and sustainability. The recent migration marked a significant milestone, but it was only one chapter in a long-term collaboration rooted in shared values.

Manfred Ruf, IT Manager at UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein, shared: "The partnership with MD Systems and Upsun has consistently exceeded our expectations. Their innovative solutions and greener hosting practices have advanced our sustainability goals and allowed us to focus more on our core mission of improving the lives of children."

Refactoring vs migration: the smart choice for sustainability

While refactoring applications for a new hosting environment can sometimes be necessary, the Upsun approach demonstrated the value of strategic migration. By leveraging their existing infrastructure and transitioning it to a sustainable platform, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein avoided unnecessary complexity and disruption.

This approach highlights an important lesson for organizations: achieving sustainability goals doesn’t always require starting from scratch. With the right partner, you can modernize your operations while maintaining continuity.

Leadership in green IT

UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein’s move to greener hosting sets an example for nonprofit organizations worldwide. By partnering with Upsun, a certified B Corp with gold medals from EcoVadis and Greenly, they demonstrated how sustainability and operational excellence can go hand-in-hand.

"By migrating to Swiss data centers powered by renewable energy, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein significantly reduced its carbon footprint, aligning its digital operations with its global sustainability mission." – Manfred Ruf

Impact beyond IT

The partnership’s benefits extend beyond environmental impact. By aligning its IT operations with modern donor values, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein strengthened its engagement with stakeholders and donors who increasingly prioritize sustainability. The cost savings generated by energy-efficient hosting were reinvested into programs that directly benefit children, creating a ripple effect of positive change.

Looking ahead

UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein and Upsun are not just adapting to a greener future but actively leading the way. Together, they continue to explore innovative solutions to reduce environmental impact and inspire other organizations to embrace sustainable IT practices.

"The partnership with Upsun has exceeded our expectations, enabling us to advance sustainability goals while focusing on improving the lives of children worldwide." – Manfred Ruf

UNICEF bases its commitment on the principles of tolerance, mutual understanding, solidarity, and peace between peoples. The children's relief organization opposes any kind of discrimination, is politically and denominationally independent, and works to improve the living conditions for children in developing countries. Learn more about UNICEF and how you can make a donation.

*CO₂ emissions as low as 80–90 mg per kWh averaged over a 12 month period.