From left: Annika Ramsköld, head of sustainability at Vattenfall and Josefin Levander, sustainable IT at Malmö City
Once again the Nordic IT buyers have united to deliver a powerful message to the global IT industry on how to accelerate the development toward more sustainable IT. This time the focus is on closing the loop on materials. Buyers say this is an important step for resource efficiency and circularity that can be taken right away, and they also see several opportunities for collaboration.
The ASF report 2020 demonstrates the most important sustainability aspect for the global IT industry according to the Nordic IT buyers. It is handed over to the Responsible Business Alliance, the industry’s sustainability organization. The report contains:
”I’m impressed with the actions to assemble stakeholders to address the circular economy recommendations, and I have high expectations on the future collaboration to cover the whole industry. ”
The appetite for materials is skyrocketing
The world is only 8,6 per cent circular, meaning that of all the minerals, fossil fuels, metals and biomass that enter it each year just 8.6 per cent are cycled back.
The consumption of materials has quadrupled since 1970, while the population has only doubled.
In the last two years, consumption has increased by more than eight per cent but the reuse of resources has fallen.
Production paved with problems
Around 70 percent of the carbon footprint from small it products come from the production.
The so called conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold) on which electronic equipment is heavily dependant, fuel conflicts in DR Congo, with devastating consequences for miners and their families.
Complex supply chains with limited transparency increases the risks for violations of labor rights.
The production of one laptop requires 240 kilos of fossil fuels, 22 kilos of chemicals and 1,500 kilos of water. It generates 1,2 tons of waste.
From e-waste to e-source?
E-waste is the most rapidly growing waste stream predicted to reach 52 million tons in 2021.
Only about 20 per cent is properly recycled.
There is 17 times more gold in a ton of smartphones than in a ton of ore.
The estimated value of the world’s e-waste is 55 billion Euro.
In the 2019 ASF dialogue, the foundation of the ASF report, 639 Nordic IT buyers gave their view on how to achieve a more circular IT industry.
What they as buyers can do (multiple choices possible)
What they want to see from the industry (multiple choices possible)
Ok, so you have read a report and you think it has a point. Now what to do? Here are some suggestions on some steps you can take right away.
From left: Annika Ramsköld, head of sustainability at Vattenfall and Josefin Levander, sustainable IT at Malmö City
Once a year a dozen IT, sustainability and procurement experts – the ASF Advisory Board – gather for two days to develop recommendations to the global IT industry on how to address a certain urgent sustainability issue. Here, two of them, Annika Ramsköld, head of sustainability at Vattenfall, and Josefin Levander, sustainable IT at the City of Malmö, spill the beans on how the discussions went and what they hope to achieve.
A few months have passed since the Advisory Board meeting and ASF report, in which the recommendations are presented, is hot off the press when Annika and Josefin meet to discuss its findings.
Both of you participated in the Advisory Board for the first time. What are your reflections?
The focus of the report is closing the loop on materials. Why?
In circular economy, prolonged lifespan is favored above recycling. Still you choose to focus on materials. How come?
This year the Advisory Board put a lot of emphasis on involving the buyers. How come?
What is your most important message to someone you think should read the report?
What do you want the report lead to?
How do you think the industry has responded to the work of Atea Sustainability Focus so far?
Any final message?