Circular economy through reuse of IT hardware

Using IT equipment for as long as possible is always the best option from a sustainability perspective because raw material extraction and the production of IT hardware always have social and environmental impacts. That is the reason why Arvato Systems relies on its partnership with AfB. Suppose the hardware can no longer be used in the company. In that case, it is made available to AfB, where it undergoes a certified deletion process and is finally refurbished and resold if possible. If overall remanufacturing is not feasible – for example, if the hardware is defective or too old – it is broken down into individual components whenever possible for recovering spare parts or passing it on to certified recycling companies.

According to AfB, from January 1 to December 31, 2021, the partnership with Arvato Systems saved, among other things, 62,032 kilograms of CO2 equivalents (= lower greenhouse gas emissions), 245,665 kWh of energy (= reduced primary energy consumption), and 30,603 kilograms of iron equivalents (= fewer raw materials consumed).

The partnership with AfB also supports several so-called Social Development Goals (SDGs), sustainable development goals agreed by the United Nations. These include, for example, the SDGs "less inequality," "sustainable consumption and production," and "climate protection measures.