Technology has become essential to operating a modern business – we leverage it for communication, collaboration, and data management, among other critical tasks for accomplishing our mission and goals. But have you considered how your organization’s IT infrastructure affects our environment?
When you think about sustainability, the first thing that may come to mind is recycling plastic, using reusable shopping bags, reducing water usage, or switching to energy-efficient light bulbs.
Yet the way we use, manage, and dispose of digital tools and physical hardware in our daily work lives can also play a meaningful role in supporting our planet.
With Earth Day on April 22, now is the perfect time to take action! Every contribution makes a difference. Below, we’ll share six practical ways you can improve your sustainability and reduce your tech-related footprint.
You’ll also learn about the benefits of partnering with an external provider for their IT procurement services so your organization can optimize your IT infrastructure for efficiency and minimal environmental impact.
How Our Technology Use Impacts the Environment
While innovations in technology can improve your organization’s productivity, relying on electronic devices can unfortunately contribute to environmental degradation at all stages of their lifecycle:
- Production: Extracting the raw materials for manufacturing smartphones, computers, and other tech devices can harm our natural environment, as the energy-intensive process can emit significant greenhouse gases.
- Usage: Each individual device requires power to function – typically from non-renewable sources that may increase carbon emissions. Collectively, as we rely more on digital services and cloud storage, we need more data centers to keep these resources available. These facilities need vast amounts of electricity to run their servers and cool the equipment.
- End-of-Life Disposal: These days, constant technological advancements and consumer demand for new features mean that people upgrade their devices more frequently. As a result, they often discard old electronics that quickly become obsolete. If not disposed of responsibly, devices often end up in landfills, where they leach toxic substances into the soil and water supply.
How to Use Your Technology More Sustainably
We can still reap the benefits of technology in our workplaces and personal lives while also taking practical steps to minimize the negative impact. It’s all about making small changes to our habits and workflow. Our collective payoff will make a big impact on bettering the environment. Consider actions such as
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Optimize Device Usage
Think about the last time you left your computer on overnight—it was using energy without you even realizing it! Making smarter choices about how we use our devices is one of the easiest ways to be more sustainable. You can avoid drawing power unnecessarily by:
- Turning off electronics when they’re not in use
- Enabling power-saving mode on your devices to make quick settings adjustments that extend battery life, such as dimming the screen, reducing processing power, turning off non-essential background apps or features, and limiting certain tasks or updates.
- Unplug chargers when you aren’t using them – even if they’re not in use, they still use small amounts of power, which can add up over time.
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Choose Energy-Efficient Devices
When you’re shopping for a new device, it’s easy to get caught up in all the features and specs. But you should also consider how much energy it will use – energy-efficient devices are better for the environment and your wallet, too!
If you want to pick a more sustainable product, consider a device’s energy consumption before procurement. Devices that consume less power can really add up in savings over time, and little tweaks like these can snowball into a greater, more tangible environmental gain. Check the device’s power rating, usually listed in watts, and compare it to other models in the same category.
You can look for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star rating or other energy efficiency certifications. These labels show that the device meets the rigorous efficiency standards of industry experts.
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Reduce E-Waste
What did you do with your old phone or computer the last time you replaced it? If it ended up in the trash, that’s pretty common! A lot of people don’t realize that electronics shouldn’t just be tossed out.
Instead, when devices break down, consider repairing them first rather than replacing them! A quick fix can extend their life, reduce your environmental impact, and save you money. If you’re ready to move on to a new device, consider donating or selling your devices. Many gadgets still have plenty of usage left and passing them on benefits others while keeping it out of the landfill.
And if a device is no longer usable, recycling it through certified e-waste programs can prevent toxic chemicals from affecting the environment. You will also help recover valuable materials like metals and plastics for others to repurpose!
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Support Sustainable Brands
When shopping for new tech, consider supporting companies that have strong sustainability practices. PC Corp’s tier-one manufacturer partners, such as Lenovo, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft, and ACER, to name a few, have extensive programs that support the environment and help reduce their organization’s impact.
Companies like these provide clear information about the sourcing of their materials, manufacturing processes, and overall environmental impact. Look for brands that focus on reducing their environmental footprint in their products and packaging!
Supporting these brands will reduce your personal carbon footprint while also encouraging a shift toward more responsible business practices across entire industries. Making intentional choices about where you procure your devices can have a ripple effect that meaningfully drives sustainability forward.
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Reduce Paper Usage
In many offices, ‘paperwork’ is still highly manual—printing, signing, scanning, and filing. Moving to digital documents and e-signatures for things like bills, notes, and contracts can significantly slash your paper waste, which is critical for decreasing your environmental impact. More paper means more trees being cut down and more water and energy consumed during production.
Rather than printing documents for signatures or filling out physical forms, you can now handle these tasks with a few simple clicks. Not only does this save paper, but it also helps streamline your workflow, cut down on clutter, and make it much easier to store and access important files, ultimately boosting your productivity.
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Educate and Advocate
The more we learn about the way our devices are made, used, and eventually discarded, the clearer it becomes that small shifts in our habits can make a big difference. Staying up-to-date with the latest practices allows you to apply them in your everyday life, and sharing this knowledge with others multiplies your impact.
Beyond improving your knowledge, it’s also important to advocate for real change in your workplace and community. If you don’t know where to get started, the United Nations Global Compact provides a helpful framework. You can get tangible action steps to create more ethical and sustainable business operations – including encouraging the development and use of environmentally friendly technologies.
How An IT Procurement Specialist Can Help Achieve Your Sustainability Goals
A smart IT procurement strategy will make it easier to take a strategic approach to meeting your organization’s sustainability goals.
When you work with PC Corp, we’ll help you make decisions that address productivity, business security, and environmental considerations. We have partnerships with leading manufacturers who are serious about sustainability, and our IT procurement services team is knowledgeable about sourcing products that consume less power, last longer, and are easier to recycle when they’re no longer needed.
We’ll also help you think beyond your initial purchase and focus on longevity. Rather than replacing hardware every few years, they help you build an infrastructure that lasts. No more constant upgrades and less e-waste!
Our managed IT services team is also ready to proactively maintain your equipment so it stays in top shape and continues to work for years to come.
Contact us to discuss how we can bring you durable, high-quality tech that drives your business forward.
