CIRCULAR ECONOMY
As environmental concerns grow, more businesses are looking to recycle devices at the end of life and buy new products containing recycled materials, meaning that there are growing opportunities for resellers in the circular economy.
With 2024 being the hottest year on record, according to data from the World Meteorological Organization, it is perhaps unsurprising that sustainability is becoming increasingly prominent in the strategy of many businesses, with the circular economy becoming more popular as they look to cut their carbon emissions and increase the amount they recycle to help mitigate the effects of climate change. As Mary Jacques, executive director, Global ESG & Regulatory Compliance at Lenovo, notes, a recent study by CapGemini found that sustainability moved to the forefront of business strategy this year. “It found 62% of business leaders planning to increase their sustainability investments,” she says. “Enterprises are becoming more aware of their environmental impact, not just in operations but across supply chains and product lifecycles. The circular economy is emerging as a key framework, helping companies reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and align with net-zero goals. “Interest in the circular economy is accelerating across industries. While larger enterprises and those in tech, manufacturing and retail may be leading the charge, circular practices are becoming more accessible for businesses of all sizes.” Nancy Powell, HP UK+I sustainability lead, agrees that awareness of the need for businesses to be more sustainable is growing steadily across the board. “Sustainability is no longer seen as a side initiative, it’s becoming central to how businesses define long-term value,”
she says. “We’re seeing procurement teams, IT decision-makers and board- level stakeholders increasingly ask about circularity and environmental impact, especially when it comes to hardware lifecycle. The conversation has shifted from cost and efficiency alone to include responsible consumption and end-of-life planning. “While large enterprises have historically led the charge, especially those with robust ESG frameworks, we’re now seeing mid-sized and even smaller businesses taking circularity seriously, often driven by client expectations or internal values.” Across industry Steve Dickinson, head of supply chain at Espria, says that interest in the circular economy is growing across all kinds of industries and business sizes. “With eco- conscious green targets rolling out across all industries, IT operators are faced with a need to go green without overspending,” he adds. “This is particularly clear for sectors like manufacturing, retail and IT, where sustainability initiatives more often align directly with operational needs and consumer expectations. “Larger corporations are already implementing circular initiatives, partnering with other organisations to create circular solutions, such as product-as-a-service models and shared consumption. Similarly, SMBs are adopting rental services or shared consumption models. Ultimately, adoption is driven by understanding end-user needs and providing teams with the tools they need
Mary Jacques executive director Global ESG & Regulatory Compliance
lenovo.com
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While larger enterprises and those in tech, manufacturing, and retail may be leading the charge, circular practices are becoming more accessible for businesses of all sizes
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