News in the Channel - issue #15

CHANNEL SUSTAINABILITY

the worst impacts of climate change and future-proof business growth. Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. In a sustainable channel ecosystem, partners should consider the types of products and solutions they invest in with these standards in mind. Vendors with IT products and solutions that demonstrate good environmental design and operations are more desirable for partners in terms of meeting their own sustainability goals, and helping their customers reach theirs. If partners work with vendors that are aligned on their sustainability mission, creating science-based targets to reach aligned goals, this can lead to more effective partnerships and more open, transparent ecosystems that are better built for the future and are working toward the greater good. Reducing unnecessary equipment Increasingly, digital processes and operations are casting a spotlight on equipment that may no longer serve an organisation’s needs. Automation for workflows and daily tasks, as well as devices connected through the internet, are making certain types of equipment less crucial. In recent years, the World Economic Forum found e-waste to be the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. As up to 90% of decommissioned enterprise IT equipment is believed to be re-purposable, finding an alternative use for otherwise unnecessary kit can also play a key role in promoting sustainability. Demonstrating commitments to reducing waste, at a time when organisations are being increasingly pressured to do so, will help partners meet customer expectations. If partners can facilitate repurposing e-waste for customers, it helps customers on their sustainability journey and takes the complexity out of reducing waste when upgrading their IT infrastructure. For example, the Juniper Certified Pre-Owned program has helped more than 1,000 Juniper customers avoid 3,629 metric tons of CO₂ emissions and prevent 66 tons of e-waste from going to landfill to date. Partners should reach out to their vendors to join a recycling program or facilitate their own to support customers’ sustainability journey. In addition, offering a trial for products and services before ensuring customers fully

commit is a great way to ensure that the solutions work well for the customer, meaning they will not swap out services and contribute to more e-waste. Similarly, Juniper offers a ‘Try and Buy’ scheme to customers with this aim in mind, offering a 60-day risk-free trial, which ultimately reduces e-waste as the customer can return network solutions hassle-free. Reducing carbon footprint A key challenge facing customers is balancing digital transformation with sustainability efforts, raising both while not derailing either. Though digitalisation brings many benefits for organisations, a digitally enabled world is consuming more power. Partners must consider this when assessing their product offering and how these products are delivered throughout the channel. Green initiatives prioritise technology with above-average environmental credentials, and that can be disposed of or recycled with less negative global impact. This type of technology will have an energy-efficient product design, maximised power and space consumption for customers and sustainable packaging to reduce emissions. Offering products from vendors that adhere to these standards will not only be desirable to environmentally conscious customers but will help partners stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Aligning sustainability ethos Within the channel ecosystem, partners and vendors have a shared future direction. Ensuring this can be achieved involves investing in each other, strengthening partnerships and collaborating effectively. Due to big environmental targets set by governments and evolving consumer expectations, partners should be increasingly mindful of the vendors they work with, and subsequently, whether their policies and products align with their own ethos. At Juniper, we believe businesses should take sustainability targets and CSR actions seriously, as a shared global responsibility and as a wise investment in a long-term, sustainable business future. Partners should opt for products and solutions that are inherently sustainable from the development stage. This includes long- lasting technology that is energy efficient through design, intelligently built to easily scale, adapt and update, and which will aid and sustain further organisational change.

Green technology with above-average environmental credentials, and that can be disposed of or recycled with less negative global impact. “ ” initiatives prioritise