Understanding Sustainability Criteria for Organizations

Sustainability has gained importance across the global business landscape. The reason is increasing consumer demand for a responsible business approach. The growing global climate change issue has also made sustainability a priority. As per a CSR study, 63% of Americans want companies to focus on social and environmental change. And 76% of Americans expect companies to take action against climate change. Hence, companies are embracing their key role in contributing to a healthy planet.

Green initiatives create value for businesses, society, and the environment. Sustainable business operations bring many benefits:

• Reduced carbon footprint
• Consumer satisfaction
• Minimized regulatory issues
• Reduced waste
• Improved corporate reputation
• Increased competitive advantage

To become more responsible, companies need to meet the sustainability criteria. These include requirements or factors that can make a company more sustainable. As a result, companies need to:

• Analyze corporate strategies
• Practice waste management
• Invest in recycling programs
• Deploy green infrastructure

Let's look at some key requirements that fall under the sustainability criteria.

1. Eco-Friendly Business Strategy

The good news is that more companies are incorporating sustainable operations across their businesses. And the world is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. For instance, over 3,000 businesses have set a science-based carbon target. Companies can become more sustainable by rethinking their business model. Traditional business models focus more on business growth and total profits. Modern strategies consider the impact they can have on society and the environment. Also, companies must have a detailed plan of action to guide them to achieve their ambitious targets. Eco-friendly business models can help companies unlock new avenues. It can also help them stand apart from others. Companies can promote sustainability across every aspect of operations by changing business strategies.

2. Sustainable Infrastructure

Green infrastructure plays a crucial role in making a company more sustainable. For instance, many companies discard their old IT hardware and buy new ones. This increases the global demand for the production of new hardware. Constant manufacturing of new IT hardware creates a burden on the environment. It increases raw material mining from the earth, which is very energy-intensive. Companies can make their infrastructure more sustainable by buying refurbished or used hardware. Used hardware refers to repaired and tested hardware. It ensures the same performance as new hardware. Hence, it can help companies make their infrastructure more sustainable. Used hardware serves many benefits:

• Achieve sustainability goals
• Extend the hardware lifespan
• Reduce CAPEX costs
• Reduce carbon footprint
• Lower e-waste

3. Waste Management

According to the UN's Global E-waste report, global e-waste will reach 74 Mt by 2030. This is almost double the amount of e-waste generated in just 16 years. E-waste has become a complex challenge facing companies. The major reasons are:

• Higher consumption of electric equipment
• Short hardware life-cycles
• Unnecessary asset disposal

As a result, companies must practice effective waste management to meet the sustainability criteria. One of the ways to do so is by increasing the hardware life cycle. Another way is to practice responsible IT Asset Disposition (ITAD). It focuses on reusing, recycling, or disposing of unwanted IT hardware in an eco-friendly way. When opting for ITAD services, ensure the vendor follows strict security standards. It's also important that the vendor is transparent about their eco-friendly processes. Certifications are also a good way to assess a vendor's credibility regarding sustainable practices.

4. Regulated Recycling

According to the EPA, the U.S. generated 3.4 million tons of e-waste in 2012. Out of that, only 29.2 percent was recycled. The rest was dumped in landfills and incinerators. Recycling is imperative to prevent e-waste from contaminating the soil, air, and water.

It's crucial to practice regulated recycling. Improper recycling is equally dangerous to the environment. Companies can partner with a certified and experienced recycling vendor to ensure the effective recycling of electronic waste. This will help ensure the company can meet its sustainability objectives and put its old hardware to better use.

Embedding Sustainability Across Business With CXtec

CXtec is an ITAD and refurbished hardware provider with over 40 years of experience in the industry. We are committed to driving sustainability objectives for businesses. And we strive to keep up with the ESG demands and reduce the burden on landfills through our refurbished hardware and ITAD solutions. Our premier brand of certified, high-quality, pre-owned IT hardware, equal2new®, offers:

• Sustainable, high-quality used hardware
• Maximized hardware value
• Massive cost savings
• ISO-certified quality checks
• Lifetime warranty with advance replacement
• 99.51% out-of-the-box reliability rating
• Customized solutions

Our ITAD services also focus on the responsible disposal of obsolete assets. It ensures 100% data erasure and a maximum value on EOL hardware. Our ITAD services use sustainable tactics and are certified to fulfill the most stringent environmental and security standards. Recycling is a big part of our ITAD process, and we provide a compliant R2:2013 Responsible Recycling certified solution for hardware with no resale value.

To learn more about our refurbished hardware brand and ITAD services, contact us at https://www.cxtec.com/contact/