Current Challenges and Barriers in Sustainable Web Design: A Qualitative Study

Sustainable web design plays a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact of websites and digital services. However, there is still a long way to go in implementing sustainable web design practices. To understand current challenges and barriers in sustainable web design, we conducted a qualitative study gathering data from 27 participants, including practitioners, prospective practitioners, and academia in Norway. Our analysis revealed that a lack of knowledge and understanding of sustainable web design is the most frequently reported challenge. Participants expressed a need for more information and specific guidelines on how to implement sustainable practices. Other challenges included a lack of prioritization among customers, a lack of motivation, comprehension difficulties, and a lack of syllabi in academia. The majority of participants ranked sustainability as their lowest priority, with accessibility taking the top spot due to current regulations in Norway. However, similar challenges were reported in implementing web accessibility, where participants expressed dissatisfaction with the guidelines.