PRINTITRESELLER.UK VOX POP 43 We’re in an era where employees come to me with ideas to implement and want to know what actions we take to be sustainable Andy Ratcliffe: “We are seeing this happen now more than ever before, people have finally woken up to the fact that every decision we make, no matter how small, has an impact on the planet. All other things being equal, if the option is given to be more sustainable, why say no? It would be crazy!” Martin Roberts: “Working with environmentally conscious businesses should be an aspiration for everyone. But over the last two years, the truth is that the number one priority is cost. We are certainly mindful of our customers and the changing landscapes they have encountered. Keeping a cap on costs, including energy, is the most difficult choice to make. As a partner, we are mindful of sustainability, and we try and give our customers practical options that are sustainable in terms of costs as well as the environment. For example, we design, invest and deploy our systems in ways that remove the need for printing. “IT recycling tackles a huge issue. It should be a high priority for many businesses. From a security standpoint, having redundant kit sitting around an office doing nothing isn’t good. We do encourage recycling so that technology can be reused again. For unsalvageable equipment, the precious metals inside can be removed, with the rest of the items safely recycled in a certifiably sustainable way. “Another practical use is the use of equipment that no longer meets our power and usability requirements, but will suit what other people need. We have engaged with companies that will take unwanted IT equipment and send it to other parts of the world, where it can be used by somebody, often for different purposes, such as education. “This extends the life of the equipment, while helping companies to safely and securely engage in more sustainable practices – rather than the alternative which is adding to landfill sites around the world.” Graeme Savage: “As we move further into the 2020s, reducing our environmental impact on the planet is becoming ingrained deeply into all our lives. We believe that organisations that make the investment to move business processes and corporate culture towards a more sustainable direction benefit in attracting and retaining, both clients and employees.” Mark Bailey: “We believe there has been a huge shift in recent years for most people to align themselves with a supplier or employer which sets out to do the right thing in life. “We have seen it in conversations with customers who clearly state it as a key part of decision-making and also in staff, to the extent we have even been asked the question by an employment candidate.” Ato Nimoh-Brema: “Economic, social and environmental sustainability is essential in today’s business climate due to shifting viewpoints throughout the world. In the public sector, a growing number of our customers now inspect and were able to reduce them 11 per cent, so slightly ahead of target. “We are also looking to increase the amount of renewable energy we consume directly through contract, and from 2019 to 2020 we saw a 22 per cent increase in that area, so as of 2020, 12 per cent of our electricity comes directly from such sources. “While in 2020 our overall waste generation increased due to increased business activity, we were able to increase our global diversion rate to 82 per cent. We are in the process of finalising a new set of aggressive goals for the period 2021 to 2030, the decade of Climate Action. Part of that set of goals will be a new science-based target for global GHG emissions reduction.” Richard Hinds, Chief Operating Officer, Exertis UK: “Exertis forms part of the DCC Group, and together each DCC business is focused and dedicated to driving forwards the group sustainability strategy. The four sustainability pillars identified are climate change & energy transition, safety & environmental protection, people & social and governance & compliance. “We have committed to reducing our carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, if not before, in line with the Paris Agreement, with an interim reduction of 20 per cent by 2025. Within Exertis UK we have already achieved a 65 per cent reduction when compared with 2019. “Other recent initiatives include the installation of electric vehicle charging points at our Burnley and Basingstoke sites. By the end of this financial year, we are aiming to have switched our internal car fleet to all electric vehicles.” continued... PrintIT Reseller: To what extent do you think customers (and employees) want to align themselves with organisations who place sustainability high on the business agenda? Ato Nimoh-Brema
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