After the Crisis, Let’s Use Technology to Move Towards a Circular Economy – Data Centre Dynamics

Sustainability Manager, Astrid Wynne comments on the EU Circular Economy Action Plan in this Data Centre Dynamics article. The Plan was released on 11th March and links the secondary market to aiding the creation of a more sustainable approach to business and society, but it received less attention than it might have done because of the unprecedented events surrounding the COVID 19 pandemic.

At a time when our use of technology is enabling us to work remotely, and thereby limit the spread of the disease, we are seeing the benefits of an increasingly digitalised society. The EU Circular Economy action plan supports a more sustainable digital infrastructure in the following ways:

  • Regulatory measures that encourage devices to be designed for durability, upgradability, maintenance, reuse and recycling
  • A focus on implementing the right to repair for the ICT sector
  • Allowing Member States to use VAT to promote circular economy activities like refurbishment.

In doing so, the EU sees an opportunity to increase EU GDP by an additional 0.5% by 2030 and create 700 000 new jobs. To find out more, you can read Astrid’s article in full here.

Techbuyer is a global specialist in buying, supplying and refurbishing data centre equipment. We are proud supporters of the Circular Economy and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. By refurbishing IT hardware, we ensure that more materials are reused within IT equipment and that businesses, schools and organisations can maximise their IT budgets. Check out more of our Circular Economy writing here.