Due to the increase in homeworking many PCs have been left abandoned in offices and replaced with laptops. According to our research, one third of desktop PCs are not expected to be used as a result of homeworking.
This has led to fears of a growing electronic waste (e-waste) crisis and has raised concerns about what companies will do with their unwanted IT.
Mounting e-waste was a problem even before the pandemic. According to the UN Global E-waste Monitor report, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated globally every year – that’s the equivalent of throwing away a thousand devices every second.
We asked over a thousand IT decision makers: what do you do with unwanted IT?
The response showed that there’s a lack of clarity among businesses about how to dispose of old and unwanted IT:
- 25% lock away their old IT without a clear disposal plan
- One in 10 admitted to dumping old IT equipment in landfill
- 36% don’t know where their equipment ends up
Towards more sustainable IT
As a result of the global e-waste crisis, pressure to adopt more sustainable practices is on the rise. Our research reveals that sustainability is a core part of IT strategies for almost a third of companies across Europe. Leading IT managers are seeking a better, greener solution to manage the IT lifecycle.
Redundant business technology represents not only risk but also an opportunity. It often holds residual value which businesses can capitalise on to fund their transition to new, flexible ways of working. We refurbish and resell over half a million devices a year as part of the REstepIT service.
Read the full State of Business IT research report and explore themes including:
- Electronic waste and the need for sustainable IT
- Flexible working and the impact of Covid-19
- Access vs ownership – a new way to acquire and manage IT
