Sustainable Electronics
efficiency and storage of energy, as well as improving waste heat recovery and the offsetting of carbon, will be key. We’re already seeing a great example of a data centre operator aiming for net zero in Switzerland, where a Tier IV certifi ed facility is deploying solar panels on its roofs and walls to utilise natural energy sources. The same centre is also using an innovative method for recycling waste heat, using it to heat a local cheese dairy found in close proximity! Sustainable network infrastructures will be key to successful environmental stewardship and maintaining economic and operational viability. Buying into broader sustainable projects such as the European Green Deal will not only reduce carbon emissions but also ensure cost savings in the long run too.
Reducing plastic packaging Sustainability doesn’t begin and end with just energy efficiency, however. According to the UN and its environment programme, over one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute, and up to five trillion bags are in use each year. In 2024, it’s estimated we’ll produce around 400 million metric tons of plastic waste. It’s clear businesses also need to rethink the way we
produce, use, and replace plastic as well. This aligns with the circularity concepts within the European Green Deal, which emphasise reducing waste and promoting the reuse and recycling of materials. By incorporating circular economy principles, businesses can help mitigate plastic pollution, decrease resource extraction, and create more sustainable production cycles. The Green Deal encourages innovation in product design, material recovery, and sustainable consumption patterns, ensuring that products are kept in use for as long as possible and that waste is minimised.
However, all too often, fi bre optics and other communication components will be sourced from vendors and shipped across the world in single-use plastic bags. The creation and subsequent usage of these bags also generate signifi cant amounts of CO2 emissions and non-recyclable waste, meaning a change is required.
It’s for these reasons that vendors like
References: 1
2
HUBER+SUHNER are launching new initiatives to reduce the number of plastic packaging, in favour of 100 per cent recyclable FSC-certifi ed paper packaging. Making the switch from plastic to paper packaging of our indoor cable assemblies will ensure a reduction of its packaging carbon emissions by 50 per cent as well as the number of plastic bags reduced by 2.2 million per year, calculated according to ISO 14040 and based on supplier data.
A shared commitment If more businesses implement similar strategies to reduce plastic packaging, there will not only be a remarkable impact on the environment but on operations as well. FSC-certifi ed paper, including the bags, cable ties, and box tape, is easier and quicker to open, saving valuable time when installing network infrastructure. Fewer resources are also consumed, as paper covers and cable ties weigh far less than the typical plastic
https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en https://www.climateneutraldatacentre.net/working-groups/
3
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/aktuelles/energieeffi zienzgesetz-2184812 4
5
https://www.sustainableviews.com/ais-energy-hungry-data-centres-bring-sustainability-challenges-f8c3bdae/
https://greensoftware.foundation/articles/how-green-software-can-transform-the-software-industry
packaging typically used by vendors today. Optical performance is also enhanced because paper packaging reduces the chances of dust contaminating components, something critical to applications like data centres where fi bre optic assemblies are used. Once businesses see the benefi ts this approach to packaging brings, we hope more will follow this example and create similar initiatives of their own. If we’re to see networks at the forefront of sustainable technologies and practices, every business - from vendors to network builders and operators - must play their part by setting examples and committing to energy effi ciency, environmental friendliness, and integration into a broader, sustainable ecosystem. Only then will businesses be in the best position to align with carbon neutrality goals and overcome both future environmental and connectivity challenges.
https://www.hubersuhner.com/en
www.cieonline.co.uk
Components in Electronics
December/January 2025 39
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