3427: Can Smarter Compression Help Save the Planet? CompressionX Think so

Sep 21, 2025

Nicholas Stavrinou, co-founder of Compression X, shares intriguing insights on sustainable data storage. He reveals how a mathematical paradox inspired a technology that dramatically reduces digital footprints. The discussion highlights the environmental toll of data centers and the pressing need for smarter compression methods. Nicholas explains how Compression X can help businesses save on costs while championing sustainability. With real-world applications and a vision for the future, he emphasizes the crucial role compression plays in addressing data growth challenges.

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ANECDOTE

From Notebook To Startup

Nicholas first sketched his theory in a leather-bound notebook and later explained it on a napkin to a coder friend.
That conversation led to a partnership and incorporation of the company in 2012, with the product launched in July.

INSIGHT

Data Growth Outpaces Infrastructure

Global data is exploding toward hundreds of zettabytes, creating huge demand on energy and water infrastructure.
Much of this growth is recent: 90% of stored data was created in the last two years, making storage practices urgent.

ADVICE

Compress Data As It Is Created

Compress data proactively and store new data compressed to reduce storage growth and infrastructure needs.
Treat compression as a routine data practice alongside deleting duplicates and automating cold storage.

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What if the way we store data is shaping the planet’s future? That thought has been on my mind ever since attending the IT Press Tour in Amsterdam, where I first connected with today’s guest. With global data creation forecast to hit 510 zettabytes by 2030, and data centers already consuming staggering amounts of power, the conversation is no longer about whether change is needed but about how we approach it.

Joining me on the podcast is Nicholas Stavrinou, co-founder of CompressionX, a company rethinking lossless compression. Nicholas shares how a mathematical paradox in a university notebook grew into a technology that promises faster, cheaper, and more sustainable data storage. His story takes us from leather-bound journals and napkin sketches to a working product that is already helping users cut their digital footprints by more than 90 percent.

In our discussion, Nicholas explains why compression deserves a seat at the sustainability table, especially as AI and enterprise workloads generate unprecedented volumes of cold data that simply sit idle in storage. We talk about the real costs of data growth, from spiraling cloud bills to the hidden environmental toll of cooling data centers, and we explore whether smarter compression could give businesses an edge while also reducing emissions.

Nicholas and his team are also taking this message beyond theory. After the IT Press Tour, they are heading to Big Data LDN at Olympia London, where Compression X will be presenting in the Data for Good theatre at 2:40pm on Wednesday, September 24, and welcoming visitors at stand G58. It’s a reminder that sustainable infrastructure isn’t just about grand new facilities or green energy projects; sometimes it starts with rethinking something as humble as a file format.

As you listen, ask yourself: could compression be one of the simplest yet most overlooked ways to make digital life more efficient, affordable, and sustainable?

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