businessinfomag.uk 24 magazine SUSTAINABILITY 4 Embrace the second-hand market. One of the most straightforward ways to extend product life cycles is to procure second-hand IT, which even if it is no longer suitable for the original buyer might still have years of life left in it. Second-hand purchases offer costs savings and a lower environmental impact, including reductions in scope 3 emissions (see below). 5 Establish clear KPIs. Measuring the success of circular IT procurement requires clear, actionable KPIs. These metrics can help track progress on sustainability goals, such as reducing scope 3 emissions, the indirect emissions that occur in a company’s value chain but are not produced by the company itself, e.g. those produced during the manufacturing of products. In addition to product use, remember to track emissions from cloud services and repair activities. It’s time to move beyond the traditional approach to e-waste and to start tackling it at the start of the product lifecycle. By adopting circular IT procurement practices (i.e. partnering with sustainability‑driven suppliers, setting long-term product goals, embracing second-hand options and establishing KPIs), businesses and organisations can significantly reduce their environmental impact, lower their environmental risk, minimise e-waste and save money. With the right strategies in place, procuring IT products that support a circular economy can help organisations lead the way in corporate responsibility and thrive in a sustainable future. In this way, procurement teams can identify partners that align with their sustainability goals. Businesses and organisations should clearly communicate their sustainability ambitions and specify the data they need to see to ensure transparency and accountability. By choosing suppliers committed to sustainability, they are not only reducing emissions but also contributing to a more resilient supply chain. 2 Include circular criteria in procurement policies and processes. To fully embrace circular IT, it is essential to procure products that are designed for longevity, with materials and components that are durable, repairable and replaceable. A practical way to enforce this is to include circularity criteria in procurement policies. Sustainability certifications that evaluate the sustainability of products have a significant role to play in helping organisations choose products and can simplify the decision-making process for procurement teams. 3 Prioritise durable, high-capacity products. Another key principle in circular IT procurement is to prioritise durable, high-performance products. Instead of opting for initially lower‑cost, shortlifespan products, organisations should invest in IT products that have the capacity to meet future requirements. This could include choosing cloud-based solutions rather than traditional software as they can have lower performance demands. With sustainability now a core part of operations across all sectors, International E-Waste Day on October 14 highlighted one of the biggest challenges facing the IT industry and its customers – electronic waste (e-waste). A record 62 million metric tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022, and levels are expected to rise to 82 million metric tonnes in 2030. While awareness about the benefits of recycling and reusing waste materials is growing, far too much e-waste still ends up in landfill where it leaches toxic substances into the surrounding environment and water streams and from there into the oceans. Adopting a circular approach to electronics can not only reduce the volume of e-waste in landfill but also help tackle related ills such as climate change, loss of biodiversity and toxic pollution, while also contributing to social sustainability. In recent years, the demand for procurement departments to manage the sustainability risks associated with suppliers has grown and evolved to the point where sustainable purchasing aligned with the circular economy is seen as a strategic advantage that can help businesses stand out in a competitive market and even reduce costs. The challenge for many businesses is where to start. Here are five practical steps any business can take to embrace circular IT and reduce the e-waste problem. 1 Partner with sustainabilitydriven suppliers. The journey towards circular IT begins with selecting the right suppliers. Ascertaining sustainability credentials is crucial and can be achieved by asking about sustainable products, ensuring strict sustainability requirements are included in requests for information (RFIs) and meeting with suppliers. Following E-Waste Day and COP29, Sören Enholm, CEO of TCO Development, the organisation behind the TCO Certified sustainability programme for IT products, outlines five steps businesses can take to promote circular IT procurement Where to start with circular IT Sören Enholm Readers can find out more about sustainable IT procurement by downloading the TCO Certified guide on the topic from https://tcocertified.com/how-to-procure-it-products-for-the- circular-economy/
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDUxNDM=