How to accomplish a sustainable approach to tech for your business.

In the modern age, we are more connected than ever to technology. This holds in both our personal and professional lives. The latest technological advancements have made it possible for businesses to use smart devices, laptops, and video conferencing software.

All that technology can do for productivity and efficiency is excellent, but it also comes at a high cost to the environment. Mining the necessary materials to make technology damages local ecosystems and raises greenhouse gas emissions. Old devices are then disposed of without second thoughts, regardless of their original utility.

Many businesses don’t consider sustainability for their tech purchases and use. Your business must learn to use sustainable tech to reduce its carbon footprint and be more eco-friendly.

(Image credit: beyerdynamic)

Sustainable Tech and Business: What is it important?

Today’s businesses are more dependent upon technology than ever. Remote work has made this even more evident. Our reliance on technology is alarming, with many companies offering work-from-home or hybrid plans.

The current pace at which businesses and consumers consume tech devices and other essential materials such as silicon is not sustainable. Many sources claim that crucial metals such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium require significant energy to mine and refine. These metals are essential for developing devices such as smartphones, cars, scanners, and computers. Other tech developments like mining and storing Bitcoins in your wallet are also energy-intensive.

If a company is serious about sustainability, it must be mindful of how tech is used, replaced, and disposed of in the workplace. It is good to show your company’s leadership how many devices and raw materials are being thrown away each year.

Even if their old devices still work well, many companies will swap out the computers with newer models. Some employees might request new smartphones or devices for work if they encounter technical difficulties they aren’t confident with.

These poor habits contribute to resource loss and the global sustainability crisis. If you can get your company to focus on sustainability more, you will reap the following benefits:

Eco-friendly tax credits mean tax credits

Employee tech literacy increases as they learn to use devices better and get more out of their own devices.

Your brand is a champion for sustainability, and your customers will be more loyal to you, which leads to higher profits and increased profits.

Four Ways to Focus on Tech Sustainability

Your brand can demonstrate your commitment to technology sustainability in many ways, even though it may seem difficult at first. These changes can lead to ancillary benefits such as tech literacy among employees.

Extended Warranties & Protection Plans

First, investing in tech protection plans or extended warranties can help your company save money and reduce repair costs.

A protection plan can cover many workplace devices, including:

• Computers for business, including laptops and desktops
• Personal devices like smartphones
• To send invoices, fax, and copiers with scanners, copiers, or fax machines
• Security devices
• Hardware for servers, etc.

Many device sellers and manufacturers offer extended warranties or insurance plans. These opportunities are available to you if your budget permits. You’ll save money later on if you don’t need to replace multiple computers at once.

Trade-Ins for Devices

Your business can also trade in obsolete devices to increase its sustainability in technology. This is a habit that employees might need to be trained on.

Trade-in your old devices can be beneficial in many ways. It can often make new devices cheaper when it is impossible to fix them or when you are upgrading for business reasons. It can also help keep old electronic devices out of landfills by allowing you to trade them in.

You may be wondering how? Trade-in programs often accept all devices. They repair them more thoroughly and sell them to customers who don’t need them. Or they donate them to schools and other educational programs. They may also be able to extract valuable materials such as nickel and cobalt from the devices for use in new technology. You can still keep your old devices, even if they’re thrown out with a trade-in program.

Trade-in programs for devices help you reduce your corporate tech footprint while promoting a progressive strategy and ideology in your technology use.

Diagnostics and Tech Tutorials

Many people are tempted to throw away their devices when they run into technical problems, even though most people are more tech-literate than ever before. Software, such as tutorials, diagnostic apps, and apps can help you create long-lasting behavior changes and cultural changes in your company.

An employee could catch a virus on their smartphone or discover that their computer is no longer working correctly due to a recent update. Instead of throwing away the devices, educate your employees by providing detailed diagnostics and tech tutorials.

Tech tutorials may be offered in the form of group seminars or meetings and one-on-one training sessions using specialized software programs. No matter what, tech literacy can make a difference in the future. Your employees will be more productive and save money if they are more proficient with technology.

Apps, programs, and diagnostic companies can also provide feedback on software or computers. This helps you to find solutions and not throw away technology. It is possible to save a lot of money by spending a little time teaching your employees or yourself how technology works or how to fix common problems when it fails.

(Image credit: beyerdynamic)

Tech Recycling Programs

If you are active in tech recycling programs, your organization can reap the benefits. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, has many recycling and donation programs that you can join.

Recycling and donating electronics is better for the environment, as it preserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. According to the EPA, recycling one million laptops can save as much energy over a year as it takes to power 3500 homes in the US.

Many recycling programs offer convenient mail-in and haul-away options. This means that you don’t need to make time for electronics recycling. You can either have your devices picked up by someone or mail them in for free.

Conclusion

Every business can use technology sustainably and reduce waste, as you can see. Although your company may not be ready to tackle all the issues immediately, you can start with the four strategies below to reduce waste and improve tech literacy among your employees.