Rethinking tech management: building a future-proof model to move from e-waste to efficiency

E-waste is a growing global crisis. A record 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022, up 82% from 2010. According to the UN, that’s equivalent to 1.5 million 40-tonne trucks, roughly enough to form a bumper-to-bumper line encircling the equator.

These figures are concerning and may only be a precursor to another significant challenge.

Next year, two converging tech trends – rapid progress in the adoption of AI-powered devices and the decommissioning of MS Windows 10 – are expected to spark the most significant refresh of enterprise technology in a generation, with over 240 million PCs at risk of becoming e-waste.

With many organisations starting to consider refreshing the technology acquired during the first months of the COVID-19 emergency, this crossroads presents both a challenge and a significant opportunity for businesses.

By rethinking their approach to technology management, they can not only reduce the environmental impact of decommissioning their technology, ensuring it does not end up as e-waste, but also improve their operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

And as today is International E-waste Day, what better time to start making a change.

Finding value in waste

Inside those 1.5 million 40-tonne trucks of e-waste are billions of dollars of resources that are being lost. Of course, wasted resource is also wasted opportunity – just 1% of the demand for rare earth elements is currently being met by e-waste recycling, and in 2022, US$62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources went unaccounted for.

Waste on this scale is hard to comprehend.

As one of the largest consumers of technology, public and private organisations have a critical role to play in reversing this trend and ensuring their IT management maximises the value of every digital device. That’s because e-waste isn’t just a source of rare earth metals; the devices themselves are valuable resources, too.

Consider smartphones: their processors could function for over a decade, yet we often retire them after using only a quarter of their potential lifespan, according to research by the University of San Diego.

Regulation, regulation, regulation

Regulators are all too aware of the urgent need to act on the issue of electronic waste and are moving quickly to ensure organisations take responsibility for their impact.

The EU has introduced a range of rules to tackle e-waste, compelling businesses to account for the environmental footprint of their resources, including technology, and, for the larger organisations, to have a clear plan in place to mitigate their impact across the supply chain.

This regulatory pressure means businesses will need to think differently about how to find value in what we have traditionally called waste and how to leap towards new consumption models.

A new model for tech consumption

There are numerous ways organisations can address the growing issue of electronic waste.

One promising approach is to adopt end-to-end technology lifecycle management solutions, which enable organisations to procure the latest digital tools while embedding a plan for their responsible management and disposal from the outset.

These strategies involve financing agreements where the business leases devices rather than purchasing them outright. With contractual obligations and residual value guarantees based on the equipment coming back in good condition, there’s a strong incentive to care for and extend the lifespan of leased technology.

These models also support organisations’ financial resilience, as instead of an upfront capital investment in new devices, planned monthly payments are made across the contract period, which includes important lifecycle services, such as IT asset management software, secure return logistics, data sanitization, and refurbishment. These value-added services can help organisations to introduce more responsible IT management processes and, at the same time, reduce their e-waste contribution.

Enabling circular practices

These types of IT procurement models enable organisations to introduce circular principles into their IT management from the moment they acquire new technology.

IT asset management software allows the efficient use of devices throughout their lifetime, reducing technology overconsumption by providing a detailed overview of who has what and how much it is costing the business. Automating the return process also enables the devices to be collected and processed securely at the end of the contract period.

By procuring and managing devices for reuse, organisations are creating an opportunity to extend the useful life of their IT. The technology can then become available in the second-hand market for someone to buy instead of a carbon-intensive, newly manufactured one.

A low-waste future

Today, every organisation focuses on reducing its environmental impact, and many are wondering how to start the transition to more circular practices.

Still, sometimes, it isn’t easy to know where to begin or how to find solutions that will have a tangible impact.

With an unstoppable revolution in IT hardware underway and AI-powered laptops soon to be the only choice for large businesses, introducing a technology management lifecycle solution is a practical step every business can take today to embed a more ciruclar approach to IT management and to start addressing the issue of electronic waste.

Ready to adopt a more responsible approach to your IT management? Contact us today.