As the UK falls behind on reducing emissions, tackling e-waste could provide an opportunity for the channel
Steve Haskew, head of sustainability and social leadership at Circular Computing, zeroes in on device repair as a key route out of the UK's sustainability lull.
New estimates on UK greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) this week, have revealed a concerning trend: after a consistent period of decline, household and business emissions increased by 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
This suggests that the UK's progress toward its Net Zero target may be stalling, highlighting the need for more robust and innovative approaches to sustainability.
One of the most pressing challenges, and one directly connected to the channel, is the rising volume of electronic waste - a significant contributor to GHG emissions, particularly in the UK, where e-waste generation per capita is among the highest globally.
Per capita, the UK's e-waste generation in 2023 (24.5kg/capita) ranked second behind only Norway, according to E-Waste Monitor.
While the government's initiatives, such as the Deposit Return Scheme on plastics, are commendable, they barely scratch the surface of the broader issue.
As the UN recently reported record levels of global e-waste, it has become clear that addressing this issue is crucial to curbing emissions.
Steve Haskew, head of sustainability at Circular Computing, emphasises the critical role that MSPs and their partners must play in tackling e-waste.
"There are a range of practical ways MSPs can reduce e-waste, but underpinning these must be a coordinated approach and a business-wide commitment to sustainable practices," Haskew explains.
In particular, he points to remanufacturing as one route towards dramatically reducing device-related emissions.
"Remanufacturing a laptop produces just 6.34 per cent of the CO2, compared with an equivalent new machine and these second-life models can be guaranteed by standards like the BSI Kitemark, meaning they perform the same, if not better," he adds.
Haskew also advocates for regular maintenance and upgrade schedules to extend the lifespan of electronic equipment.
He believes that embedding awareness of e-waste and sustainable disposal methods within companies and across supply chains is essential.
"Working with partners to help remove their older IT, whether directly through collection or providing a recycling store, will also help support a circular economy," the sustainability lead explains.
Pragmatic solutions
But far from suggesting a radical overhaul of business practices, Haskew advocates for pragmatic, but urgent changes to supply chain management, including a concerted influence from partners up the chain towards vendors.
"Partners working with vendors is at the crux of the solution when it comes to tackling e-waste," he says.
Establishing take-back programmes is one approach where vendors are responsible for collecting and recycling their products at the end of their lifecycle.
"We should also encourage our vendors to offer remanufactured products rather than just brand-new ones."
These solutions, according to Haskew, are not just good for the environment – they also end up reducing costs for businesses at a time when margins for many partner firms are already razor-thin.
"Being realistic we must deliver proposals that benefit businesses' balance sheets as well as the environment.
"As well as slashing CO2 emissions a remanufactured laptop can cost up to 40 per cent less than a new device.
"Whether it is offering vendors incentives or sharing the benefits of remanufactured tech, we must smooth the path towards second-life products."