How to ensure ultimate sustainability for your IT project

Additionally, as part of any IT project, the disposal of defunct devices and the subsequent energy impact of this process needs to be recognised.

As governments worldwide aim to meet net zero carbon emissions targets, including the UK’s target of net zero emissions by the year 2050, it is clear increasingly stringent regulations will be invoked to ensure businesses are putting sustainability at the front and centre of their operations.

But carbon emissions from new assets are not the only source of concern for the IT industry. Additionally, the disposal of e-waste, which refers to any electronic product which has been discarded by its owner, is a growing problem across the globe.

The problem with e-waste

When electronics are disposed of in landfill, the metals and materials used within them can leech into the soil contaminating the land and groundwater. The environmental impact of e-waste is therefore huge.

According to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor, 53.6 million metric tonnes of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21% in just five years.

In the UK alone, 1.6 million tonnes of e-waste is generated, which sees the country placed second globally in terms of the amount of e-waste produced per person (per capita).

Sustainability needs to be front and centre from the beginning

During the planning and procurement stages of your company’s asset management lifecycle there are a couple of important questions you need to ask to help ensure sustainability is embedded into your project from the get-go.

These questions include:

• Do we need a new device, or could we reuse or remanufacture existing products, or buy refurbished ones?
• What is the expected lifespan of the device?
• Will we be able to upgrade or replace parts of the device if needed?
• Will we be able to recycle the device when it has come to the end of its life?

Thinking through these questions and their answers from the beginning of your IT project will help ensure your project is as sustainable as possible. It should also mean that the operation and maintenance stages of your project are easier too. You will have chosen products that are built to last, and you will have selected products that are easy to repair and upgrade when needed. This means you can maximise and prolong each device’s lifespan.

Why you need to pay attention to your IT specialist’s delivery partner

When looking to ensure sustainability is fully integrated into your IT project’s lifecycle, it is vital that you also consider the carbon emissions of the delivery partner that your IT specialists use.

This is because they will also contribute to the carbon footprint of your IT project as part of your organisation’s Scope 3 emissions, as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Why reuse should be your first port of call

During large-scale IT projects, and particularly when employees move on from an organisation, the reuse approach should be the first port of call as the most environmentally friendly and cost-efficient option.

If your IT equipment is still functioning perfectly well and meeting your business needs, then the most sustainable solution is to opt for reuse.

Even though as a business it might seem more profitable for an IT partner to suggest otherwise, we would always recommend reuse as a first port of call. It is also the most cost-efficient option for you as a business.

It is also worth ensuring you have robust processes for the return of company equipment when an employee leaves your company, whether they work remotely or in an office.

Without a robust process, there is a high possibility that equipment may never be returned and so gathers dust or ends up in a landfill or sustains damage in transit due to poor packaging.

As well as this, leaving electronic equipment with former employees is an information security risk.

Remanufacture may be necessary for damaged or worn equipment

Remanufacture may be the most suitable option if a piece of electronic equipment has damaged or worn parts that need replacing.

In the right circumstances, remanufacturing electronic equipment is an important part of the circular economy.

Alternatively, when an electronic device no longer meets your organisation’s requirements, the product can be resold or donated after sensitive data is wiped from the device, thus further reducing your organisation’s contribution to e-waste.

But there will of course come a time when a device is no longer fit for purpose.

Rather than being sent to landfill, recycling is another key part of the circular economy with 75% of all electronic materials used able to be recycled.

When it comes to the recycling of products it is crucial to ensure you choose an IT partner who will decommission and dispose of those items according to Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2013 standards which also ensures you have a full and transparent audit trail.

By following the advice of a trusted and reliable IT partner who follows a clear process of reuse, remanufacture, and recycling on a case-by-case basis means that the e-waste your organisation sends to landfill is reduced significantly. Not only that, but you will reduce your IT project’s carbon footprint, which will be ever more vital to ensure your business is ready for the more stringent regulations that can be expected as the UK looks to meet its net zero target by 2050.