The surge in laptop and PC purchases during the early days of COVID-19 is culminating in a new wave of upgrades required for ageing devices. Laptops purchased back in 2020 are now nearing the end of their typical three-to-five-year lifecycle, with users seeking newer devices that meet the demands of today, such as AI and Windows 11 compatibility.
This year is poised to witness one of the largest IT refresh cycles since COVID-19. But what lies beneath this inevitable tech turnover? A growing e-waste problem, depleting natural resources and environmental harm. Before businesses default to buying new, it’s worth exploring alternatives like Remanufacturing as a Service (RaaS) that ensure economic and environmental balance without compromising quality or performance.
The Problem with Traditional IT Refresh Cycles
Most corporate laptops are retired after three to five years, even if they’re still capable of meeting performance demands. The reasons for replacements vary from expiring warranties to updated operating systems that seem incompatible with older devices. However, this habit-driven pattern fosters a linear economy, where devices are purchased, used for a short life, then discarded and replaced.
This process drives several critical issues, including:
- E-waste generation: The UK alone produced over 24.9 million discarded mobile phones in 2020 and laptops face a similar fate. Globally, just 20% of e-waste is properly recycled, with an alarming amount being illegally exported to developing countries, worsening environmental strain.
- Using finite resources: The production of new devices consumes enormous resources, including water and critical minerals. On average, manufacturing a single laptop requires over 190,000 litres of water and results in roughly 331kg of CO2 emissions.
- False performance assumptions: Many companies believe newer laptops automatically deliver better performance. However, research shows that laptop optimisation plays a much larger role in functionality than age, with even slightly older devices capable of comparable speeds if maintained properly.
If businesses continue on this trajectory, the cycle of over-consumption and environmental harm will persist, leading to worsening climate impacts.
Remanufacturing as a Service (RaaS)
Circular Computing offers an innovative solution in the form of RaaS. Rather than retiring laptops unnecessarily, RaaS allows organisations to remanufacture their existing devices, restoring them to “as good as new” condition. This approach extends the lifecycle of laptops, reduces costs and minimises environmental impact.
The RaaS Advantage
Here’s how RaaS compares to the standard IT refresh model:
Traditional IT Refresh Cycle
- E-waste: A linear approach contributes significantly to e-waste build-up worldwide.
- High upfront costs: Replacing devices en masse requires significant capital investment.
- Performance misconceptions: Assumes new devices always deliver better performance, which may not hold true. According to Nexthink study new models generally have the latest CPU architecture. Looking at data, they concluded that 76% of devices have CPUs under 4 years old.
- Operational disruption: Rolling out new devices can interrupt business operations.
RaaS Model
- Circular economy: Preserves resources by reusing and upgrading existing devices, supporting sustainability goals.
- Cost efficiency: Allows organisations to realise significant savings while prolonging investments in technology.
- Tailored rollouts: Devices are upgraded in manageable batches, ensuring seamless integration into business operations.
- High quality: Laptops meet or exceed performance, safety and cosmetic standards following remanufacturing.
The message is simple yet powerful: adopting RaaS enables businesses to align operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.
Circular Computing remanufactured laptop produces just 6.34% of the CO2 emissions compared with a new machine. According to Steve Haskew, Group Director of Sustainability at Circular Computing. “Remanufactured models perform the same, if not better, than their new counterparts and can carry certifications like the BSI Kitemark to guarantee this quality.”
Quality Without Compromise
Unlike traditional refurbishing, the remanufacturing process adheres to rigorous standards. At Circular Computing’s state-of-the-art facility, laptops undergo the BSI Kitemark Certified Circular Remanufacturing Process, meeting BS8887-220 and BS8887-211 standards.
- Initial Inspection: Devices are examined for defects and performance issues.
- Disassembly: Laptops are broken down into individual components for a thorough evaluation.
- Component Inspection & Remediation: Any worn or defective parts are repaired, cleaned or replaced.
- Cosmetic Remediation: External parts like keyboards and covers are repainted and refinished to appear brand new.
- Reassembly & Testing: Laptops are rigorously reassembled and undergo comprehensive stress testing to ensure optimal performance.
This meticulous 5+ hour process ensures that remanufactured laptops deliver quality without compromise and cosmetically identical to new devices.
Autumn Stanish, Director Analyst at Gartner, calls for a shift away from traditional recycling, saying, “Recycling is the least preferred method that we have. What we want is reuse, repair and remanufacturing. Only then can we get more sustainable”. This establishes reuse as the gold standard for tackling e-waste, as it keeps devices in use for longer, reduces emissions from manufacturing and requires fewer raw materials.
Going Beyond E-waste Reduction
Remanufacturing is a critical step in curbing e-waste. Instead of contributing to the illegal export of over 500,000 tonnes of UK e-waste annually. Businesses can adopt circular economy solutions. Through the unique Circular Remanufacturing Process, we re-use 99% of the original materials to remanufacture a laptop and the last 1% goes into recycling, where it is transformed into pallets. Nothing is thrown away and have a collection of more than 180,000 spare parts.
RaaS delivers far-reaching impacts across an organisation’s sustainability strategy. For example, Circular Computing’s remanufacturing approach saves resources like water and carbon emissions, which are often invisible contributors to environmental harm.
By choosing remanufactured laptops, businesses actively reduce their reliance on resource-intensive manufacturing processes while meeting net-zero targets. The savings per laptop include:
- Water Saving: Over 190,000 litres of water is saved from being used for extraction and production.
- CO2 Reduction: For every Circular Computing remanufactured laptop, approximately 316kg (700lb) of CO2 emissions are prevented by not buying new.
- Resource Preservation: To manufacture the necessary materials to create each component of one laptop, 1,200 kg of the Earth’s resources are mined and consumed.
The RaaS solution not only benefits the planet but also unlocks value for businesses by delaying expensive hardware replacements and freeing up budgets for other innovations.
Rethink IT Management with Smarter Solutions
Transitioning to RaaS represents a significant evolution in IT management, offering an antidote to outdated practices that have long strained budgets and resources. Circular Computing offers an innovative alternative through a persona-based performance refresh strategy, enabled by RaaS. By tailoring refreshes to user requirements and upgrading devices in smaller, manageable batches, organisations can dramatically reduce costs while maintaining efficiency and satisfaction. Our seamless approach ensures operational continuity, enabling IT leaders to allocate resources based on actual performance demands rather than arbitrary timelines.
Inefficiencies also emerge in how many organisations manage Joiner, Mover, Leaver (JML) processes. High employee turnover or movement within the company poses logistical challenges, leading to not only underutilised devices but also frequent and unnecessary purchases. This has financial implications on a large scale, particularly for organisations managing thousands of devices and often results in suboptimal user experiences, especially when reallocating poorly maintained or outdated equipment.
Circular Computing solves this with a smart solution. We retain laptops that still look great and perform well for ongoing needs, while devices below this standard are sent through our unique remanufacturing process as part of the RaaS program. These devices are returned to “like new” standards with the option of extended warranties, helping organisations extend the lifecycle of their IT assets. The result? Up to 70% savings on costs and a meaningful contribution to sustainability goals while meeting the demands of a modern workforce.
Adopting RaaS with Circular Computing not only addresses these longstanding challenges but paves the way for a more ethical, efficient and sustainable future in IT management. It’s an opportunity to rethink how technology resources are utilised and take real strides towards greener, smarter business practices.
According to Kenny Craig, Head of IT at AG Barr, “AG Barr is proud to endorse Circular Computing’s remanufactured laptops. Their dedication to sustainable practices mirrors our ethos, making our collaboration a natural fit. The high-quality, environmentally conscious technology that Circular Computing provides not only meets our operational needs but also reinforces our pledge to become Net Zero by 2050.”
How to Transition to RaaS
Transitioning to RaaS is a structured, low-risk process designed to minimise disruption. Circular Computing offers four phases to ease the shift toward remanufactured laptops:
- Discovery
Share basic details about your existing laptop estate. Receive a detailed Proof of Value report showcasing potential savings and environmental benefits.
- Proof of Concept
A trial run involving about 10 laptops is provided at no charge, allowing organisations to evaluate the quality and sustainability impact of remanufacturing first-hand.
- Trial & Remanufacturing
Send 100–200 laptops for remanufacturing. Processes and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are fine-tuned for seamless integration into everyday operations.
- Deployment
We ship your remanufactured stock back to your site, ready for distribution to your staff, just like a refresh project.
Building a Sustainable Community
Beyond technology, Circular Computing’s partnership with charity: water demonstrates the wider social impacts of remanufacturing. For every remanufactured laptop sold, clean drinking water is funded for communities in developing regions.
This partnership exemplifies what ethical IT practices can achieve not only conserving resources but also improving lives globally.
Why Choose Sustainability Now?
The tech industry faces mounting pressure to adopt sustainable practices, from government net-zero commitments to growing awareness among consumers. RaaS offers a practical and scalable solution to achieve these goals while addressing operational challenges.
Instead of contributing to the growing environmental burden, businesses can seize the opportunity to refresh their IT strategies and lead the charge in creating a sustainable future.
The impending wave of IT upgrades doesn’t have to follow the wasteful cycles of the past. With solutions like RaaS, organisations can extend the life of their laptop fleet, promote a circular economy and maximise ROI all while reducing their carbon footprint.
As Circular Computing CEO Rod Neale states, “Instead of just sticking with the same old tech-buying routine, businesses must take a long-term view and the easy win of slashing costs and emissions through second-life IT is a no brainer”.
It’s time to rethink our habits and join the movement for smarter, greener technology choices. Choose remanufacturing, choose sustainability and choose progress.
