Have you ever stopped to consider whether the very digital tools we use to deliver essential public services are, in fact, undermining our national net-zero ambitions?
It is a question that many in the civil service are beginning to ask with increasing urgency. As we look towards the 2026 regulatory horizon, the conversation regarding sustainability has shifted. It is no longer merely problematic for the reporting teams; avoiding this has become a central pillar of how the UK government buys, uses and disposes of technology. The publication of the Greening government ICT: annual report 2024 to 2025 provides a vital health check on our progress, offering a comprehensive look at how departments are faring against the Greening Government Commitments (GGC).
The numbers: A bit of a mixed bag
The headlines from the latest report are, on the face of it, quite encouraging. Estimated carbon emissions from government ICT fell by 13% from the previous year, a significant step in the right direction. However, despite this drop, total emissions remained at nearly 300,000 tonnes, a figure that reminds us of the scale of the task at hand.
When we peer under the bonnet of these statistics, a telling trend emerges. While an increasing proportion of these emissions now stem from hosting operations which are driven largely by the rapid digitisation of services and the rise of power-hungry data centres, the largest proportion continued to come from the embodied carbon in end-user devices and peripherals.
This is a crucial distinction. We often focus on the energy a laptop uses when it is switched on, but the reality is that 75–85% of a new laptop’s lifetime CO₂ footprint occurs during mining, manufacturing and assembly before it even reaches a civil servant’s desk. In short, the most sustainable laptop is the one that has already been made.
Tackling the mountain of e-waste
The government’s efforts to trim the “carbon fat” extend beyond emissions to the physical hardware itself. The report notes that estimated ICT waste from the UK government fell 36% from the previous year, yet still producing nearly 1,000 tonnes of waste annually.
It is wonderful that less than 1% of ICT waste went to landfill or incineration. This proves that they are showing the “take-make-dispose” model the door. However, there is still room for improvement: nearly two-thirds of this waste was processed for recycling rather than being directly re-used or resold. While recycling is better than the bin, the waste hierarchy prioritises reuse and life extension.
There is, however, a silver lining that should please the Treasury: the government realised over £2 million in value from reselling end-of-life IT equipment this year. This proves that circularity isn’t just “green”; it’s a sensible bit of business that puts money back into the public purse.
Policy as the engine of change
How has this shift been achieved? It hasn’t happened by accident. Sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern; it is now embedded into the Technology Code of Practice, the Service Manual, and the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government.
All ICT and digital projects subject to spend controls are now obligated to include sustainable ICT as part of the Chief Digital and Data Office (CDDO) processes. There is an increasing emphasis on lifecycle management, circularity, and robust supplier reporting. We are moving away from passive disclosure and into an era of active sustainable procurement.
The next step on this journey is already in the works. The Government Buying Standards (GBS) consultation on second-life devices represents the next frontier in procurement policy. By setting clear standards for what constitutes a high-quality, pre-owned device, the government is paving the way for circular procurement to become the mainstream choice rather than a brave alternative.
From policy to practice: The case for remanufacturing
If the goal is to reduce embodied carbon, we must take a long, hard look at how we source our laptops. This is where public sector organisations can make the most significant “easy win.” However, we must also distinguish between “refurbished” and “remanufactured” kit.
General market ‘refurbished’ can be a bit of a mixed bag, from something more substantial to bare minimum testing. Genuine ‘remanufactured’, by contrast, is a rigorous process. Circular Computing’s innovative Circular Remanufacturing Process™ extends laptop lifecycles far beyond conventional expectations. Our advanced and unique Circular Remanufacturing Process involve 360 distinct steps across a meticulous 5+ hour journey per laptop, delivering consistent quality that can rival or exceed new equipment standards.
The environmental evidence is staggering. A peer-reviewed scientific study by Cranfield University found that our remanufactured laptops produce only 6.34% of the CO2 emissions compared to brand-new models. By opting for our remanufactured laptops, an organisation can achieve:
- A reduction of 316kg of CO2 emissions per laptop.
- A saving of 190,000 litres of water per laptop.
- The prevention of mining 1,200kg of earth per laptop.
Leading by Example: DEFRA and the GDSA
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been the driving force behind this movement for over a decade. As the chair of the Sustainable Technology Advice and Reporting (STAR) group and the Cross Government Digital Sustainability Strategy Group (XGDSSG), DEFRA ensures that ICT is rationalised and responsible throughout the digital infrastructure.
Within its own walls, Defra ensures that 100% of its projects and programmes are assessed for sustainability. Defra has become the first UK government department to adopt sustainable laptops at scale, proving that high-performance laptops do not have to cost the Earth.
Through their contract with Atos, Defra is procuring up to 34,000 Circular Computing laptops over five years. This partnership demonstrates that even the most secure and high-stakes public sector environments are moving away from “brand new” to protect their budgets and the planet.
Defra has doubled its standard weighting for sustainability and social value to 20%. This shift proves that the largest organisations are no longer just looking at price, they are looking at the circular economy.
Defra also manages the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA), a partnership that brings together suppliers of all sizes to share best practices and ensure that digital technology puts less pressure on our environment.
Kent County Council
Kent County Council (KCC) faced a digital conundrum. They had pledged to bridge the digital divide for their residents through Digital Inclusion scheme – bringing technology to every doorstep and connect every individual to the digital world. The result? Circular Computing offered a sustainable and socially responsible alternative to brand new laptops and its position as the global leader in remanufacturing laptops provided the required confidence to take this approach.
Through the partnership with Kent County Council, they supplied carbon neutral, second-life remanufactured laptops to over 6,000 residents in the county, supporting those who were facing digital exclusion.
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
For London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD), the move to circular ICT was as much about social value as it was about carbon. The challenge was how to retain the value of their old IT equipment, deemed waste, and convert it into a tangible benefit for the community.
The objective was to bridge the digital divide and ensure universal access to the internet and digital technologies, especially for children, thereby fostering an inclusive upbringing.
Circular Computing’s solution delivered 350 Chromebooks to LBBD at zero net cost to the Authority. Each Chromebook underwent a meticulous remanufacturing process, ensuring they met high-quality standards.
By turning what was once considered waste into a valuable resource, LBBD not only addressed their immediate challenge but also set a precedent for sustainable and ethical practices in local government.
The road to 2026 and beyond
As we crack on with the 2021-2025 framework, the government is already reviewing the next set of GGCs for 2025-2030 to ensure they align with evolving priorities. The forthcoming UK Sustainability Reporting Guidance for 2025/26 is expected to tighten requirements even further, particularly regarding Scope 3 emissions.
Because it is estimated that 45% of global emissions come from the way we make and use products, procurement is now the primary lever for hitting our targets. Public sector leaders who embrace circularity now will find themselves ahead of the curve, meeting regulatory requirements without the sudden cost escalations that often accompany radical change.
The findings of the Greening government ICT: annual report 2024 to 2025 make one thing clear: the time for incremental change has passed. While a 13% reduction in emissions is not half bad, the continued high levels of embodied carbon in our devices show that we must change what we buy, not just how we use it.
By shifting our focus to laptop lifecycle extension and reuse, we can tackle the lion’s share of our ICT impact. Whether it is through the deployment of remanufactured laptops or the embedding of circularity into our core codes of practice, the path forward is visible.
Sustainability is no longer a reporting burden; it is a smarter way to procure. It is about empowering everyone in a department to realise that cutting carbon delivers not just environmental benefits, but cost efficiencies and better value for the taxpayer. It is, quite simply, the right way to do business in a climate emergency.
As the report identifies, end-user devices and peripherals remain the largest contributors to our ICT emissions footprints. It is time we addressed that head-on. Let us ensure that the next time we refresh our kit, we aren’t just buying new; we are buying better.
