What does circular economy mean in the IT world?

The circular economy always includes raw materials. If you don't talk about raw materials, then you don't understand the circular economy.

In a circular economy, we always take into account what materials are acquired and why, and how we can extend their lifespan. The most important thing is to finally get the raw material back into the cycle, where new raw materials and products can be obtained.

Circular economy is not just a repetition of a single small thing, but it is a complete package. If the whole package is not understood, then we cannot talk about the circular economy either.

But what does circular economy mean in the IT world?

1. Purchasing IT equipment

When purchasing devices, organizations should make a conscious decision about, for example, the amount of recyclable materials used in the products they buy. Or if the devices should be purchased so that they already contain recycled materials. Or what the CO₂ emissions of the devices are.

Some criteria would be good, i.e., responsibility and circular economy criteria should already be part of that procurement process. In this case, the decision is made to purchase such devices that will last a long time and that can eventually be recycled into raw materials.

In this case, the first choice has already been made to join the circular economy.

2. The lifetime and extension of the lifetime of IT equipment

Maximizing the lifespan of a device within its initial deployment is key to a functioning circular economy. This way, the device's lifetime can be optimized with technology.

IT can support this by monitoring the physical condition of the device. The lifespan of devices can be extended by effective remote management, maintenance, and generally knowing what is happening in those devices.

SwanIT's services are specifically aimed at extending the lifespan of devices, and this can help the company save large sums of money.

3. Raw materials and recycling

If the device changes hands within the organization, the circular economy can still be implemented, as long as the organization ensures that the device is recycled. But if the device is sold to a place where it is not known how it will be processed to its end, then it is no longer a circular economy.

The most effective way is for the organization to, for example, rent out the device as a service, and then the device is included in the circular economy promise. That is, whenever the ownership or location of the device changes, there is a high risk that the circular economy will end.

The device can, of course, be recycled from one organization to another. As long as we make sure that the device ends up in the third and final step of our IT circular economy definition (i.e., raw materials and recycling), that's fine.

The device should therefore end up in the service of an operator where it is dismantled, the raw materials are recovered, and these raw materials end up in industrial use in the form of new products.

These new products do not have to be just IT equipment, but all collected material reduces the need for new raw material in the world. This way, mining growth can be slowed down, as mining has a huge impact on environmental and human rights issues. 

Concrete benefits of the circular economy

1. Promoting human rights and environmental values.

2. An organization's sustainability figures are already known if, for example, CO₂ emissions and recycling rates have been taken into account.

3. The organization needs to buy less, which means that significantly less money is spent on devices.

4. In addition to money, time is also saved. The need for constant switching of devices is avoided, as things can be done on a data-driven, needs-based, and flexible basis.