Sustainable technology encompasses aspects ranging from the manufacturing, use, management, and disposal of this type of IT equipment in a way that minimizes its negative impact on the environment.
We understand that both consumer and professional technology—such as network and storage infrastructure—are essential in our daily lives for providing extensive coverage of demanding services. But after 10 years in this industry, we still don’t fully understand why many companies (and users) discard their equipment simply because it’s a few years old or the manufacturer’s official warranty has expired.
More than 160,000 laptops are thrown away every day in the EU
Every year, more than 272 million laptops are manufactured. And every day, an average of 160,000 are discarded in the EU simply because they are considered “obsolete.” This excessive consumption leads to environmental and social problems, pollution, and a large amount of electronic waste.
70% of those laptops can be reused
Thanks to the mindful use, reuse, repair, and reconditioning of technological products, the vast majority of discarded technology can be restored to perfect working order after a simple visit to a service center. Whether it’s components, software updates, or memory, once these are replaced, everything works at 100% capacity again. Needless to say, this also translates into significant cost savings for the owner—whether a private user or an IBEX-listed company, it doesn’t matter.
The potential to extend the useful life of technological equipment is growing at the same pace as technology itself. It is also gaining increasing recognition from both experts and buyers due to its many advantages and efficiency.
Electronic waste is not only a problem of enormous proportions in terms of landfill disposal—primarily in countries such as those in South America, Africa, China, and India—even though it is prohibited by law. These countries often lack the capacity to properly manage waste for the recovery of raw materials or for treatment and disposal. To make matters worse, the people working in these mountains of electronic waste—which is highly polluting for both the environment and human health—are often children. These individuals are exposed to toxic substances that, in some cases, can be fatal or cause long-term, degenerative harm to local populations and the environment.
Therefore, when we consider the mountains of electronic waste, the wasteful use of metals and raw materials, and the potential consequences for communities and the environment, we see that the problem becomes an environmental, economic, and social one on a global scale.
In a circular economy, however, resources are managed responsibly. The goal of sustainable technology is to extend the useful life of equipment and to recirculate or reuse materials. But what does this really mean for technological equipment, and how can the circular economy be applied in practice when purchasing and using IT products? What stands in the way of circularity, and how can these obstacles be removed?
We need to shift to a circular approach to technology! Part of this approach involves using technological or computer equipment for longer, repairing it, upgrading it, or reselling it when it no longer serves your specific purposes. This is the most important thing a company (in our field) can do to reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions.
Circularity is also better from a financial standpoint
Adopting a circular approach helps maximize the value of your IT investment. When equipment is used for longer, receives reliable maintenance, and is repaired as needed, its performance—and your investment—are optimized. Not to mention that once they are no longer useful to you—due to organizational changes or increased requirements—they can be resold to a company like MercadoIT, allowing you to recoup part of that investment. MercadoIT’s technical team will refurbish the equipment to ensure all features are fully functional and will put it back into circulation so that other companies with different needs can get the performance they require.
Market demand from both businesses and users is key to accelerating change
There is an increasing amount of information, greater awareness, and more confidence when it comes to working with sustainable technology. That’s why more and more people are buying refurbished tech equipment. This type of equipment guarantees proper operation and often comes with a warranty that’s even better than the standard one provided by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). It also offers maintenance and troubleshooting services, as well as more flexible options for customizing the equipment to your specific needs.
For MercadoIT, circularity in sustainable technology involves managing the entire life cycle of technology assets for professional network infrastructure.
Of course, implementing a circular system or sustainable technology through refurbishment in your company requires the participation (and therefore the information) of all employees. Sustainability cannot be achieved through isolated actions. Engage your team in this kind of awareness; give them the opportunity to see that everything is truly efficient while (without even realizing it) they are reducing the negative impact of technology.
Some Facts – The Average Laptop
On average, the extraction, manufacturing, and production of a single laptop generate 316 kg of CO₂ emissions, which contribute to global warming. Our remanufacturing process completely eliminates these emissions by using existing computers.
The extraction and production of technology require an enormous amount of water: a single laptop uses about 190,000 liters. This is equivalent to more than 700 years’ worth of drinking water for the average American.
To manufacture the materials needed to create each component of a laptop, 1,200 kg of the Earth's resources are extracted and consumed. Remanufacturing not only prevents the consumption of additional resources but also reduces the electronic waste generated by the disposal of a laptop.
CONCLUSION
If these are the average figures for a single laptop, imagine the impact that professional network infrastructure equipment—such as a data center—has. When it comes time to replace or purchase technology equipment for your company, think about the impact you want to have on the world—whether negative or positive. It’s up to you.
