News in the Channel - issue #41

SUSTAINABLE IT PROCUREMENT

to harder questions from customers: where does this device come from, is it built to last, what's its carbon footprint, and what happens to it at end of life? Those that answer those questions confidently with data and real supply chain visibility are winning deals.” Sarah-Jane McGaw, global head of environmental sustainability at Westcon- Comstor, notes that the picture is mixed. “Customers are looking more closely at lifecycle impact, energy use, end-of-life handling and the availability of credible product data and there is clear interest in products with longer lifespans,” she explains. “At the same time, from our perspective, environmental procurement is not necessarily getting louder across every part of the channel. We are more often asked for data on our own carbon footprint and performance, while product-specific data usually still sits with vendors.” Growing choice Alex says the sustainable options available to businesses today are far stronger than they were a few years ago. “Manufacturers are now building repairability and longevity into devices from the outset – modular components, longer software support windows, and circular design principles that make refurbishment more viable and value- retaining,” he says. “That's good news for resellers and MSPs. Devices designed with longevity in mind are easier to refurbish to a high standard, and advances in standardised grading and quality control mean those devices now routinely meet the same performance criteria as new stock – with a fraction of the environmental footprint. For resellers, that means a compelling, quality- assured proposition to bring to customers. For customers tracking Scope 3 emissions,

Printers form a key part of IT procurement. Lynne says Xerox pursues a holistic approach to sustainability. “The core housing of most of our devices is made of robust steel frames, and during development, we test our printers and multifunction devices rigorously in test labs to ensure their durability even under adverse conditions, helping to extend product lifecycles to seven years or more in many cases,” she explains. “In the usage phase, we ensure low energy consumption thanks to sleep and toner saver mode as well as energy-saving toner. We reduce paper consumption through automatic duplex printing and managed print services. In addition to EPEAT® registration and ENERGY STAR® certification, most of our office devices sold in Europe are awarded Blue Angel, and thus certified for low energy consumption, low emissions and longevity.” Xerox also focuses on refurbishment and remanufacturing to reduce new material demand, Lynne adds. “Enabled by our global hardware and supplies collection programmes, our refurbished and remanufactured devices help us achieve more than 90% material reuse by weight on average and near 99% landfill avoidance,” she says. “Lexmark and Xerox cartridges can be remanufactured up to 10 times. Recycling only comes as the last resort, when remanufacturing or refurbishment is no longer possible. “We also focus on increasing our post- consumer recycled (PCR) plastic content. Xerox has established a new goal to increase the PCR plastic in Xerox branded office print products to 50% by 2030.” Lynne adds that the Xerox Renewal Advisor and the Lexmark Smart Refresh programmes use predictive AI- and IoT-driven device diagnostics and analytics to retain and redeploy devices, prolonging useful life, preventing premature refreshes and cutting embodied carbon at fleet scale.

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Customers are looking more closely at lifecycle

impact, energy use, end-of-life handling and the availability of credible product data and there is clear interest in products with longer lifespans.

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it means a measurable, reportable reduction in environmental impact.”

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