INSI: More sustainability thanks to used hardware

LifeVERDE: Michael, what is INSI about for me?

Every fourth German company invests more than 100.000 euros a year in storing hardware that is no longer required. The stored devices are often still fully functional and not yet mature enough to go into “full-time sleep mode”. The initiative for sustainably secure IT evolution aims to make companies aware of the necessary responsible handling of hardware in order to offer used IT added value and benefit from many advantages in the process. All services are completely free of charge for companies and that even until the end of 2021. We want to convince the decision-makers without them having to worry about expenses. A real win-win situation for everyone involved.

INSI is committed to sustainable, secure IT evolution in German companies. How exactly does the initiative proceed?

Only a fraction of all companies are concerned with the complete end-of-life of their hardware. INSI wants to give used IT the attention it deserves. With the support of various partners, it is possible for professionals for used hardware to offer all INSI supporters the necessary services, which are necessary for successful IT remarketing, free of charge.

An overview of the free services:

• Advice and collection
• Data deletion and destruction
• disposal
• Provision of CO² certificate
• Fair payment of the residual value proceeds

Why is it so important for companies to properly exploit their outdated IT?

The advancing digitization requires more and more technology. As a result, more electronic waste is generated. According to the UN, the world's e-waste mountain is over 50
Billion tons, bigger than ever. Just under 17% of this is recycled. Large amounts of natural resources as well as environmentally hazardous substances are built into IT hardware, which make disposal extremely difficult. In addition to the many resources, there is also a lot of potential in the devices. On average, companies replace hardware every 3-5 years. However, high-quality business hardware can be used for much longer and is far from being scrapped. After this short period of use, they are just ripe enough to go through a second life cycle after professional processing - quasi IT with professional experience.

E-waste accumulates unnecessarily in companies. Do you have any tips on how to avoid this?

Use the end-of-life point. From all devices. Nowadays there are conditioners for almost all types of electrical equipment that deal with the second life cycle. In fact, notebooks, washing machines or industrial vacuum cleaners are often simply replaced by new devices for convenience, despite their functionality. Companies have to think ahead here. What no longer meets your own requirements can perhaps satisfy and help others?

How can companies benefit in the long term from the correct recycling of electronic waste?

The handing over of old devices to disposal companies does not guarantee that devices will be disposed of in an environmentally friendly and professional manner. Companies whose requirements for the hardware used are no longer met have many advantages when they are shut down. The handover of used IT to professional refurbishers (IT processors), who make the devices fit for the second life cycle (= IT remarketing), is currently the most sustainable solution in dealing with hardware. As a result, companies not only actively relieve the environment and reduce the mountain of electronic waste, but can also generate significant additional income and thus gain capital for other investments. Companies can also use the implementation of a comprehensive IT remarketing process, which also and above all takes into account the end-of-life point of the devices, within their CSR reporting. To ensure sustainable success, I recently published a new white paper. If you want to act economically and sustainably and also want to avoid data protection and disposal problems, then the whitepaper is exactly the right thing. It is available free of charge at the address https://www.itremarketing.info available for download.

Does the incorrect disposal or storage of old IT technology pose risks that German companies could have avoided?

In any case. Companies are not only obliged to data protection and responsible handling of data with the introduction of the GDPR. Hard disks and data carriers of the stored devices often still contain information, some of which is associated with trade secrets. Despite formatting the hard disks and deleting the data carriers, these data are still easy to retrieve today. Many companies don't even bother wiping devices before putting them away. And that carries enormous risks. If devices that contain data are lost, companies, above all management, face fines in the millions or even imprisonment. Even minor offenses are punished with a fine of up to € 10.000. Fearing the legal consequences of a data breach, many companies decide to physically destroy the data carrier - better safe than sorry. Regardless of whether it is storage or destruction and disposal, both approaches lead to irresponsible behavior with resources and the handling of company data and make companies vulnerable.

How does INSI contribute to more sustainability by recycling old IT electronics and what exactly happens to the old devices?

The attention that INSI offers used IT is primarily intended to encourage rethinking. It is time to drive digitalization forward, sustainably and efficiently. All devices that are handed over to INSI are fully checked and processed by bb-net, an IT remarketing specialist. Devices that can no longer be put on the secondary market are donated to the aid organization Labdoo after processing to promote the international expansion of digital education. Now a sufficient number of companies only have to participate and thus demonstrate social and environmentally conscious commitment. The best way to do this is with the free, but important, registration our website.