As a company's IT environment becomes more complex and successful, the greater its negative impact on the environment can become. Many organisations replace their IT devices after two or three years of use with technology that promises greater efficiencies. The funtional, unused devices are sent to storage to collect dust until they eventually become technically obsolete and no longer usable. At this stage, the only option then is to dispose of them as electronic waste.
Storing old devices does not add value, nor does it benefit sustainability performance and liquidity; quite the opposite, It incurs comparatively high costs and increases the carbon footprint. However, these costs can be avoided by choosing the right usage model for IT hardware.
The Green IT study conducted by the respected Belgian research institute, VITO, on behalf of CHG-MERIDIAN.
old devices end up collecting dust in cupboards (Bitkom study)
of a smartphone's emissions are generated during production
of decommissioned electronic devices are recycled (WEF)