Toward a Greener Web: A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Practices in Web Development

Sustainability has become a critical concern in today's world. The need for sustainable practices is increasing across all sectors of the world. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future. As digitalization accelerates, the web becomes a crucial platform in every aspect of the world. This study analyzes the role of web technologies in fostering sustainability, focusing on key Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) phases: design, development, and deployment through a systematic review of thirty-four (34) papers. This paper addresses the need to bring all sustainable web practices into one place by considering overall SDLC to achieve SDG goals. A combined approach utilizing the PRISMA method and Kitchenham’s guidelines was adopted to ensure a comprehensive and rigorous review process. Key findings highlight that the design phase of SDLC can contribute significantly to sustainability via optimized visual effect selections. It also highlights the importance of developers’ awareness of sustainable practices by emphasizing that even minor web development improvements can significantly contribute to achieving SDG goals.