Every click on a keyboard or tap on a trackpad carries with it hidden costs that stretch far beyond the screen in front of us. Earth Day is an opportunity to reflect on the impact of various industries, including IT and recognise their role in shaping ecological balance and promoting human equity. From the impacts of mining to the staggering amount of carbon emissions generated in the production of a single laptop, technology’s environmental and social price tag is undeniable. But here’s the good news.
We have the tools to change that.
Circular Computing is committed to addressing the challenges of wasteful consumption in the tech industry. By offering remanufactured, carbon-neutral laptops and working with organisations such as charity: water, we demonstrate how technology can align with both environmental and social responsibility.
This Earth Day, we’re calling on businesses worldwide to reflect on the true impact of their IT decisions and take steps to align their operations with a sustainable future.
How IT Impacts the Planet
The need for just one new laptop has significant environmental repercussions. Consider these sobering figures:
- Producing a single laptop requires 1,200 kg of the Earth’s resources and over 190,000 litres of water.
- 331kg of CO2 is emitted from an average laptop production.
- The IT industry contributes up to 2%-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, matching the aviation sector’s environmental footprint. Studies indicate that this percentage will rise to as high as 14% by 2040.
And the lifecycle doesn’t end there. With 160,000 laptops discarded daily in the EU, e-waste is becoming one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the world. Nearly 30% of this waste illegally ends up in developing countries, poisoning ecosystems and endangering the health of already vulnerable communities.
But climate impact isn’t the only price being paid. Communities and individuals can also suffer because of mining processes and practices.
A Circular Solution
We believe it’s time to rewrite the tech industry’s story. Circular Computing offers an alternative to mindless consumption, placing sustainability and ethics at the core.
Driving Sustainability Through Circular Economy and SDG Alignment
Circular Computing has embraced the principles of the circular economy to redefine how IT procurement can align with sustainability frameworks. By remanufacturing laptops ‘like-new’, the company has not only addressed the environmental challenges posed by e-waste but also positioned itself as a contributor to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This approach underlines their commitment to fostering a sustainable future through innovative practices and collaborations.
Tackling E-Waste and Resource Conservation
E-waste has become one of the fastest-growing waste streams globally, with millions of tonnes generated annually. Circular Computing plays a vital role in reducing this environmental burden by extending the lifecycle of IT products. Through its Circular Remanufacturing Process, the company produces laptops that produce zero e-waste, while also preventing unnecessary resource extraction. Each remanufactured laptop demonstrates how operations centred on reuse can significantly lower environmental impact.
Clean Water Changes Lives
Alongside offering sustainable IT, we’ve committed to addressing a global crisis: access to clean water.
Why water?
Over 703 million people globally live without clean water. That’s nearly 1 in 10 individuals who spend hours each day gathering unsafe water for survival. For women and girls, this means forfeiting education, income and freedom to break the cycle of poverty.
Diseases from dirty water kill more people annually than all forms of violence, including war. Children under five are particularly vulnerable, being 20 times more likely to die from unsafe water than from conflict.
How do we help?
For every laptop we sell we provide a family with clean water for a week. When a Circular Computing laptop is purchased, not only do you get quality without compromise and a carbon-neutral product, but you also help invest in providing clean, safe water for families who desperately need it. Clean water is especially critical in schools, ensuring that girls can stay in class during menstruation, while empowering women to take on leadership roles and gain financial independence. Beyond health and education, access to clean water strengthens entire communities, supporting resilience and self-reliance. Through sustainable water projects, often maintained by the communities themselves, lasting change is made possible.
That’s not just environmental impact; it is empowering lives.
Rod Neale, CEO of Circular Computing, underscores the significance of this initiative, “Consumers and businesses worldwide are still coming to terms with the impact the services and products they buy can have on their carbon footprint. Yet there is much less focus on our consumption of natural resources. Despite its abundance in the West, the accelerating effects of climate change mean the planet is facing a water crisis – and all of us must play our part.”
The Business Case for Sustainable IT
Switching to remanufactured laptops doesn’t only benefit the planet. There’s a compelling financial argument, too. By choosing Circular Computing, businesses:
- Can reduce IT procurement costs. Save up to 40% on cost compared to equivalent new models.
- Align with CSR objectives, meeting global calls for ethical change.
- Our usage of accredited offset schemes through Carbon Footprint has incorporated renewable energy solutions, from reducing degradation and deforestation to implementing hydroelectric, wind and solar power projects. These projects not only reduce carbon emissions but also empower vulnerable communities to become self-sufficient, generate local income and contribute to Earth’s preservation.
Our collaboration with King’s College Hospital Foundation demonstrates the potential of remanufactured devices in healthcare settings. Lorcan Woods, Chief Financial Officer at, King’s College Hospital Foundation said, “The NHS Net Zero commitment requires us to fundamentally rethink every facet of our healthcare system but that’s particularly true in our supply chain which accounts for 80% of emissions. KCH wants to lead the NHS agenda in this area; Reducing and Reusing as well as Recycling.”
These aren’t just laptops. They are a statement, a commitment and a step forward.
How Businesses Can Join the Movement
Here are practical ways your organisation can integrate sustainability into IT:
- Audit Your IT Inventory: Before upgrading, evaluate whether your current devices are still serviceable. Replace only where essential and prioritise remanufactured options.
- Educate Your Team: Encourage responsible consumption by demonstrating the benefits of a circular economy. Share insights about how extending the lifecycle of devices and reducing unnecessary upgrades can minimise environmental impact, conserve resources and support sustainable operations. Helping your team understand these principles can help to create a culture of sustainability within your organisation.
- Rethink CSR Budgets: Support measurable initiatives like switching to remanufactured devices.
Earth Day reminds us that the actions we take today can rewrite tomorrow’s story. By choosing circular over linear tech production, we can lead humanity toward a cleaner, fairer future and demonstrate that businesses have the power to be part of the solution. Together, we can ensure that progress is no longer gained at the expense of our planet or its people.
