CircleIT’s commitment to avoiding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is integral to its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) program. The ESG program engages corporate clients by serving a secure and sustainable option for information technology (IT) disposal and providing an opportunity for corporations to reduce their scope 3 emissions.
What are Scope 3 Emissions?
In corporate climate accounting, company emissions go into three buckets, scope 1, scope 2, and scope 3. Corporations often may have more control over the emissions associated with scope 1 (emissions from sources that are controlled or owned by an organization) and scope 2 (emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling), but the ability to reduce scope 3 emissions may pose more challenging. Scope 3 emissions encompass the indirect climate contributions of corporate operations. Operations include, but are not exclusive to the entire corporate supply chain, which comprises product production, transportation of goods, and end-of-life treatment of sold products. Additionally, Scope 3 emissions encompass the purchase and disposal of goods and services. For example, electronic devices.
How is CircleIT Advancing Client Scope 3 Reductions?
By acting as a transparent and engaged ally, CircleIT enables companies to reduce their scope 3 emissions associated with the disposal of their laptops, phones, tablets, and other electronics. Traditionally the emissions associated with IT disposal can involve transportation to ITAD facilities, collection of hardware from remote workforces, and emissions associated with recycling or throwing out devices instead of repurposing them for reuse. CircleIT has created strong partnerships with its vendors, such as carbon-neutral transportation companies, to provide clients with emission reduction strategies that they can integrate into their own sustainability aims.
The emissions potential of IT disposal may increase as workforces transition to remote models. IT managers that rely on the traditional box-and-label method will be forced to have boxes sent back and forth between them and employees to procure the outdated devices before sending them off to their ITAD provider. In addition to adding shipping emissions, this will also require unnecessary employee hours and put the integrity of the device at risk. But with CircleIT’s
CircleIT’s mission is to repair, and reuse electronic devices before seeking responsible recycling. Therefore, when CircleIT repurposes an electronic device sent by a client, it reduces the need to create a new product in the marketplace, saving emissions from the need to mine, produce, and transport a new device. The reduction of environmental impact through circular economy principles of reuse will also advance clients’ ability to meet their sustainability commitments.
Moving Forward
As the global climate crisis continues to worsen and the evidence of its impact is seen daily through more frequent and severe weather, corporations must consider the whole of their carbon footprint. The pressure is not just coming from society or the need to “do better” for the environment. The pressure is also coming from Wall Street. BlackRock has made climate change central to its investment strategy and has even put companies on notice that they are not doing their part to make a difference on climate change.
To respond to this growing pressure and need, corporate sustainability officers trying to achieve company zero-emissions and carbon-neutral targets may look to areas not previously considered. The disposal of outdated electronics can do more than support zero waste and zero landfill initiatives. Managed correctly, it can reduce a company’s carbon footprint and increase circularity. CircleIT is excited to lead companies beyond the recycling paradigm while upholding industry-leading data security.