IT Sustainability Think Tank: How IT leaders can address the sustainability gap

1. Realise owning tech is a thing of the past

The demand for hardware, like smartphones, laptops, servers, and tablets, will continue despite the economic challenges, with IT spending by enterprises predicted to continue its rise this year.

What must change is the idea that businesses must own these devices to benefit from the value they offer in terms of connectivity, productivity, and resilience.

Instead, organisations should move towards a usage model, like device-as-a-service, that allows IT teams to flex their IT stack according to need and audit and regularly renew legacy tech while ensuring that sustainable and end-of-life management are built into the procurement process.

This is a fundamental step towards achieving sustainability targets, but it will also soon become a non-negotiable compliance requirement for organisations. As-a-service models have been identified in the EU Green Deal, as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan, as a key policy component of achieving the transition to a low carbon economy, with organisations facing increasing pressure to ensure repair, refurbishments and reuse are part of their operations.

2. Skill-up through partnerships

The sustainability gap is also exacerbated by a well-documented skills gap, yet another strategic challenge facing businesses today. More than half of organisations have seen progress in the implementation of new technology slowed down by a lack of skills and knowledge within the workforce.

Sustainability requirements are also fast-moving and require a sophisticated understanding of the landscape as regulators act swiftly to legislate for improved reporting standards and anti-greenwashing measures. Yet despite new EU directives due to come online next year, only 22% of organisations are ready to report quantitively on their implementation of the circular economy.

As requirements for transparency across the supply chain become more demanding, many organisations are seeking to simplify and reduce the exposure that comes with dealing with multiple suppliers across the device lifecycle.

Finding like-minded partners that can implement holistic solutions can complement the skills and capacity available in internal teams. And it can help ensure there is a strategic and well-planned approach encompassing procurement, management, and sustainable disposal and reuse of tech assets.

3. Think global, act local

Tech procurement is never going to be a one size fits all approach, even when the ambition for responsible consumption is universal.

While legislation across international jurisdictions is mainly moving in the same direction, there are still many local requirements that organisations must consider and comply with.

Finding suppliers that can roll out sustainable solutions across multiple regions is an essential driver of efficiency and can ensure a joined-up approach to delivering sustainable outcomes. However, these solutions must have the flexibility to be successfully adopted locally, ensuring each team can tailor IT procurement to their needs and choose the right devices to meet local preferences. 

The sustainability gap is a gap between aspiration and reality. A reality which IT leaders are trying to deal with by showing intention and commitment to doing the right thing and making the transition to cleaner, more progressive tech consumption.

However, all the goodwill in the world will not close the sustainability gap if there are no practical solutions that work for teams on the ground to drive better performance and growth.

The good news is that there is a fantastic opportunity for businesses willing to shift traditional ways of thinking and implement technology systems and processes that are truly future-fit. Those that get it right will not only deliver on their commitments but demonstrate how their organisation can simultaneously offer real value to its people, customers, and society.