Promoting recycling or reuse, adopting better energy management… Several actions have been implemented in companies to reduce the carbon footprint and adopt more eco-responsible behavior. But if there is a subject that also deserves a lot of attention because of the production of a lot of (avoidable) waste, it is the computer park.
Computer equipment, even if it proves to be extremely useful in many fields of activity, has the defect of producing a lot of waste. Digital devices are indeed very energy-intensive, from their design to the end of their premature use, not to mention transport. Computer waste, also known as “waste electrical and electronic equipment” (WEEE), concerns all the devices that make up the computer park: computers, professional telephones, printers, cables or even screens.
Every year around the world, millions of tons of WEEE are generated. At the same time, the professional equipment offered for sale is increasing. For example, in 2019, 371 million items of equipment were placed on the market in France (i.e. 354,392 tonnes) while the overall collection rate reached only 47.5% according to Ademe.
In a digital sobriety approach, companies of all sizes are turning to CSR initiatives to lessen their impact. And this notably involves the purchase of hardware and software in a sustainable and, as far as possible, local way.
Projects such as hello RSE aim to facilitate exchanges and shorten the circuits between customers looking for digital products and qualified sales partners as socially responsible companies. We invite you to find out more by following this link and why not, to follow in the footsteps of a more environmental policy.
Several steps constitute a better appreciation of computer tools:
- Before any new purchase, question the need to proceed with a renewal of the computer park by defining the real needs and avoiding being tempted by the latest innovations if these do not provide specific functionalities within the framework of the ‘activity. You may not need to replace this touch pad that is still in perfect working order… Moreover, depending on your needs, refurbished devices could both save you money and allow you to meet your requirements.
- Internal reassignments, as defined the interministerial mission of eco-responsible digital technologywhich also make it possible to reuse equipment at the end of its life but which can be used for other tasks requiring less performance and competitiveness.
- And finally, the recycling of equipment and components (some of them also contain polluting substances) which is encouraged to recover tools that are no longer in operation and cannot be repaired.
For businesses, the challenges are environmental, societal and economic. Firstly by contributing to the protection of the environment on their own scale, then by adopting a different life cycle for devices to make all employees aware of this approach. Finally, these alternative purchases can also reduce the amount of invoices when it comes to replacing or supplementing a company’s digital equipment.
Article written in partnership with HelloRSE
