Circular Computing calls for global plan of action on sustainable IT

The global leader in laptop remanufacturing, Circular Computing, is calling for a global plan of action to address the significant sustainability challenges facing the IT sector. Next month, at a global summit of industry leaders, it plans to address growing concerns about the 54million tonnes* of e-waste, and 760million tonnes of CO2 emissions, released by the industry every year.

The Re: Sustainable IT Summit, taking place on April 23rd in the UAE, will welcome leaders from some of the largest companies in IT, including Microsoft, Atos and HP. It’s the first time senior stakeholders in IT asset disposition (ITAD), distribution, reselling, leasing and manufacturing will come together for a collaborative debate on this scale, aiming to tackle sustainability challenges in the IT sector, and explore the opportunities offered by circular processes such as remanufacturing. 

The event will be held at Circular Computing’s BSI Kitemark certified remanufacturing facility in the UAE. Considered the most advanced in the world, the facility delivers up to 20,000 remanufactured and refurbished laptops every month. By positioning attendees ‘in the middle of the work’, the event will put theory and practice together to find tangible and workable solutions. 

Rod Neale, CEO of Circular Computing, says: “Most companies in the industry are wrestling with the challenges of bringing deep changes to their entire business model. Changes that in some cases are commercially stressful on supply chains that have been in place for decades. Without financial resilience and success, no scalable environmental benefits get delivered, so this is not an overnight answer to where the channel can just change.

“When I started speaking of the event, I used one word more than any other: ‘collaboration’, and it is a testament to the industry that so many influential people are now coming together to ensure we collectively make the most progress possible. In a commercial world where revenue, channels and market share must be protected, it is great to see that this does not overrule the desire to do the same for our planet.” 

Vildan Demir, Regional Director at DHL Supply Chain added: “Joining forces with industry leaders at this event will enable us to shape the future of technologies, to discuss, debate, and work together to pave the way for a resilient and sustainable digital environment.” The global logistics leader has committed to invest $7 billion to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is attending the event.

The event was first conceived to showcase the work being done by Circular Computing to advance the quality of used IT products in the channel. Following enormous desire from the industry, the event has transformed into a summit where senior leaders will discuss and deliver real change. An opportunity for the IT sector to work together to become more sustainable, and specifically consider how pre-used products can be delivered to the channel at scale – usually a preserve of only brand new.

Rakshit Ghura, SVP of Digital Workplace at HCL added: “It will be great to engage with similar companies from across the spectrum around the subject of how sustainable IT can and is changing the channel forever”. 

The challenge of delivering a pre-used product into the brand-new channel is a conundrum of brand equity, commercials, and product support. There is always a level of inconsistency and risk associated with buying a refurbished product (not remanufactured), depending on the level of work done to a device. In contrast, brand-new products offer consistency and low (to no) risk.

Now, there is a new class of product: BSI Kitemark certified remanufactured. These second-use products mirror new ones, boasting zero risk and uniformity, while sharing the environmental and cost benefits of a circular economy. This certification addresses the demand for sustainable choices while ensuring product reliability and consistency, bridging the gap between pre-used and brand-new markets.

Rod Neale, CEO of Circular Computing, continues: “There needs to be an IT channel where everything can co-exist without a compromise on the standard of service, the quality of product, the commercial targets and the value of the planet we have rented from the next generation.” 

Calculations by Cranfield University show that for every Circular Computing remanufactured laptop, approximately 316kg (700lb) of CO2 emissions are prevented by not buying new. For every 1,000 laptops, that is the same as taking 80 cars off the road for a year.

Jason Warren, VP Head of Cross Portfolio at Atos: “After signing our partnership in 2021, Circular Computing is a key component of our Sustainable Digital Workplace offering which we have built to maximise the ROI for all of our global clients challenged with technology advance, estate stability and ESG targets. This event will allow for the cross pollination of best ideas, visions and practices and has captured a moment in time when the IT channel is ‘working it out’.”