Consensus on the best way to tackle climate change is not easy to come by, but the need to reduce waste pretty much unites opinion. What’s more, almost every net zero plan going, be it government or business led, has at least some focus on waste reduction.
Although just about every industry has a waste problem to deal with, e-waste is by far the fastest growing form of human generated rubbish. In fact, some predictions say that our annual global generation will reach almost 75 million metric tons by 2030 – that’s roughly the equivalent of 6.5 billion servers, every single year. About as far from sustainable as you’re likely to get.
Although it’s difficult to believe now, given how high sustainability features on the agenda, for a long time, the idea of a circular economy in the technology industry simply didn’t exist. This means organisations haven’t traditionally taken time to assess how pursuing a more sustainable procurement strategy could help in the pursuit of net zero.
As the mountains of e-waste have grown though, there is, thankfully, recognition that something has to change. Governments across the world are setting out their stalls when it comes to net zero strategies and the increasingly ambitious carbon reduction targets that are required. What’s more, sustainability is more frequently an important part of the procurement process, especially for larger businesses. As organisations put more focus on their ESG goals the lifecycle and carbon footprint of their technology is one of the places they are increasingly looking to reduce their impact.
While there have certainly been positive steps made, it’s hard to shake the feeling that, as a country, we should be doing more to encourage the recycling and reuse of technology. For example, in the Spring Statement, the government announced tax exemptions for any new spend on IT equipment, allowing any investment in IT equipment, plant or machinery to be deducted from taxable profits for the next three years. On the face of it, a smart way to give the economy a jump start and support the technology industry. However, with no clarity on whether or not the new exemptions would apply to refurbished kit it’s a policy that doesn’t do anything to encourage waste reduction.
Unfortunately, technology production is never going to be the greenest process. And yet, due to the heavy reliance we place on it in our everyday lives, there’s no getting away from the ongoing and growing demand. However, the majority of a server’s carbon footprint is generated during the manufacturing process – up to 80% by some estimates. That’s why it’s so important that we extend the lifecycles of the technology that we have wherever possible. Clearly this is a major reason why refurbished technology can have a positive impact on just about any organisation’s approach to net zero.
Extending the lifespan of a piece of technology also delays its transition to the growing technology waste dumps that are becoming a major problem in parts of Africa. It’s a harsh reminder that the decisions we make about where we source our technology from have implications far beyond the bottom line.
It’s good news then, that the argument for increasing our collective use of refurbished technology is strong. A lot of the technology that ends up scrapped is virtually new or at least in very good condition. What has been used is repaired, tested and quality assured so there’s no concerns about performance.
Refurbished is also almost always cheaper, indeed it wouldn’t be uncommon to save around 70-75% – especially important given the current economic climate. It’s also easier to procure, dispelling concerns about the complex and volatile nature of the current supply chain in the technology industry. While delivery times for new tech is normally measured in months, refurbished can usually be delivered in days.
Achieving net zero is not easy. As the focus on the sustainability of our business practices becomes more intense though, it’s important that organisations are looking at every aspect of their operation to see where improvements can be made. Although undoubtedly not a silver bullet, taking steps to commit to refurbished technology wherever possible can make a big difference. And, unlike other areas, it’s a difference that can be made with minimal compromise.
