industryopinion


Focused on achieving net zero? Make IT part of the solution


Leon Timmermans, CEO and Board Member at Flex IT Distribution discuses why the entire value chain must work together in order for sustainability initiatives to be fully effective.


T


he CO2 emissions of the IT industry are often much higher than expected and this is the main reason why it is not readily considered instrumental in achieving environmental gains.


However, there is no doubt that the use of ‘refurbished’ hardware can certainly help, something that the consumer market has already clearly demonstrated. As the UK geared up to host last year’s COP26,


“Working


Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his ambition of “setting the example for other countries to build back greener,” as well as to “lead the change towards global net zero.” His government plans to cut emissions from oil and gas by half in 2030, targets being powered entirely by clean electricity by 2035 and back in 2019, it already pledged itself to set a net zero emissions goal for 2050. Following the climate summit in Glasgow however, world leaders


together for change”


still seem to remain tunnel-visioned. For example, in 2020, corporate IT accounted for 1,100 megatons of CO2 emissions worldwide, equivalent to the annual emissions of 245 million passenger cars. Yet, despite an expected increase to 2,100 megatons in 2025, there is no mention of the industry whatsoever. The focus remains firmly on large polluters and, still far too often, the approach comes from within a tax framework. This seems incredibly short sighted whilst there is so much to be gained elsewhere and from concentrating on the here and now.


A hard reset A clear example is the adoption of refurbished IT hardware, such as laptops and smartphones. Refurbishment - the ‘reviving’ of used equipment - drastically extends product lifespans. Not only does it reduce CO2 emissions and prevent unnecessary waste, it also reduces the use of unnecessary, additional raw materials. Therefore it’s clear that refurbishment can lead to a positive environmental impact and shouldn’t be ignored. To achieve broad adoption in the business market, however, a ’hard


reset’ is necessary. Unlike the consumer market, business buyers wrongly mistake refurbished products for second-hand, which can be synonymous with inferior quality. With refurbishment, however, there is no decline in performance. It is also possible to deliver the products in a visual ‘like-new’ state. Refurbishment is equal to new purchases in


14 | April 2022


quality and functionality. And most importantly – it’s so much better for the environment. The business market has a huge impact on the climate front due to the mass production and purchase of its IT requirements. It must catch up with the consumer market where the adoption of refurbished products is already widely accepted. While consumers will happily buy a refurbished iPhone 12 or iMac, the business market resists – often due to a lack of awareness about availability and performance. Despite lessons learnt by the pandemic, when


hardware supply was scarce, Corporate IT still seems to retain that stubborn reflex to buy new - at the expense of reducing waste, wasting budgets and the all-important CO2


emissions. Telling a ‘green story’ may be appealing, but the reality is that ‘new’ is still the leading factor for the purchase of IT in the business market. To encourage this market to embrace circularity in corporate IT,


additional incentives are necesssary. It is important to propagate the messaging with more conviction. For the IT industry, this translates into the following: Working together for change Firstly, transparent communication is required to inform customers of the actual costs and the physical accessibility of products. The whole is more than the sum of its parts; the entire value chain must work together. For example, the manufacturer must be the first link to choose the least environmentally damaging production components, make spare parts available and provide long-term support for both hardware and software. Secondly, the industry must persuade governments to make a larger


percentage of their IT purchases circular. Despite talking a good talk about the environment, many governments, including the Johnson cabinet, do not walk the walk. The focus must be on actual re-use as currently the defintion of circularity is too limited. For example, using a dual-sim in a phone for both private and


professional use or just buying back a laptop is quickly labeled ‘circular’, but not enough attention is given to what subsequently happens to it. It is vital that the industry collaborates to persuade the government to become a role model for the entire industry and lead by example.


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