Minimizing E-Waste: Improving the Sustainability of Tech Rollouts
Although the amount of e waste generated across the globe is increasing by over 2.6 million tonnes each year, less than a quarter of all the electronic appliances discarded in the US in 2022 was reported as correctly collected and processed. As well as wasting recoverable resources, e-waste poses a considerable risk to health and the environment as when it is improperly managed and left to rot in landfill, it releases toxic chemicals into the soil and water courses.
Sustainable systems for the disposal of e waste will be required in smart cities if they are to thrive and, since offices are one of the largest generators of disused electronic devices, businesses can make a significant contribution to successful urban waste management.
By keeping a close eye on inventories, safeguarding existing assets and distributing only refurbished equipment or new appliances made from recycled materials at their next tech rollout, businesses can cut costs, minimize their carbon footprint and minimize the amount of e waste they produce.
Capitalizing on Existing Assets with Efficient Inventory Management
Before even thinking about purchasing and distributing new equipment, companies should be checking tech inventories, ensuring efficient laptop deployment and safeguarding existing assets. Without well organized systems for monitoring stock levels, money is wasted on ordering unnecessary replacements while useful items are misplaced or kept in storage until they become obsolete and have to be written off.
From accessing an online platform to track a remote office worker’s laptop to using AI-powered data processing to monitor larger supply chains, innovative technology can provide businesses with accurate and up-to-date insights into stock levels. By optimizing their inventory management, companies can also save money on tech budgets, reduce the amount of e-waste they produce, and generally make a more positive contribution to the environment.
Cutting Carbon Footprints with Refurbished Devices
A number of leading directors have noted the importance of acknowledging the circular economy and the part that companies play in the sustainable model of production and consumption and waste management. While more than half of businesses around the world are considering the purchase of refurbished tech, 40 percent of companies with ESG policies are still not considering the impact of their tech estate within their approach to environmental and societal standards.
An enormous number of natural resources are needed to produce modern electrical equipment and the manufacturing process from the mining of rare elements to the fabrication of components is resource-intensive and environmentally demanding. By sourcing secondhand and refurbished devices, businesses can save themselves money without compromising on performance.
As the refurbishment of a device produces around 75.00kg of CO2 less than the manufacture of a new item, they can also significantly reduce their carbon footprint by equipping their teams with reconditioned tech.
Protecting Resources By Buying Sustainable Products
As well as rolling out refurbished devices, environmentally-aware businesses can now choose from a wider range of brand new items that have been sustainably produced using recycled materials. Over the past few years, ASUS has incorporated over 1,600 tonnes of recycled plastics from used devices into the manufacture of new products, while almost a third of the ThinkPad L Series from Lenovo’s sustainable product line is made up of recycled materials from discarded tech.
In mitigating the build up of e-waste with these types of products, tech companies are helping to prevent plastic reaching the oceans and are contributing to the conservation of natural resources, including the valuable metals and minerals mined for use in electronic equipment. By choosing to purchase tech made from recycled materials, businesses are encouraging the manufacturing methods that reduce energy waste, lower rates of pollution and minimize the amount of e waste sent to landfill.
The careless disposal and unnecessary purchasing of office tech is making a significant contribution to the world’s accumulation of e waste. By keeping a close eye on existing inventory and only buying sustainable equipment when it is needed, organizations can reduce their budget for tech.
As the refurbishment and recycling of laptops, printers and phones requires less energy, produces less pollution and uses fewer valuable resources, they are also able to significantly reduce their impact on the environment.