In the ITAD space, we talk a lot about emphasizing a circular economy within your organization. It’s the key to maximizing the lifespan of your technology. But what exactly is the circular economy and how can you apply it to your organization? The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves recycling and refurbishing products for as long as possible so the lifecycle of that product (or its byproducts) are extended.

Think about your computer, or the device you are reading this on. Someday, you’ll be ready to upgrade to a newer version. When that time comes, what will you do with this device? In a circular economy, you would recycle your current device, so it could be purchased by someone else. Then that person would recycle it when they upgrade, and so on. This reduces the demand for the renewable and non-renewable resources that would typically be required to build a new machine.

Eventually, it’s likely the device will stop working. At that time, the question would be asked: Could we refurbish this device with some new parts to extend its lifecycle? If not, it’s time to break it down. Your device is made up of tons of materials that can be reused, either to build new devices or to refurbish existing devices. Once you recycle the usable materials, the actual product waste is minimal, as opposed to tossing out the entire device when you were ready to get a new one. The more we participate in the circular economy, both by pushing our own products into it and purchasing products from it, the more we decrease the demand for valuable resources that are becoming more and more scarce.

Now, think about the company you work for. Think about all the phones, computers, hard drives, screens and more across your office. What happens to those when someone leaves? When it’s time for everyone to get new versions regardless of the performance of their current products? Imagine if every corporation across the world participated in the circular economy – committing to maximizing the lifecycle of the tech they already own and purchasing refurbished technology instead of new.

Extending the life of our tech also extends the life of our natural resources. intended use, like ensuring products are created from more sustainable materials and intended to be used over and over again (think: eliminating single-use plastics). It goes way beyond throwing something into the recycling bin—in fact, most recycled electronics end up in a landfill because they are not recycled correctly. You need someone who can get you moving in the circular economy and do it right.

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