Defra Takes the Lead on Circular IT Procurement

In 2020, Techbuyer gave oral evidence to the environmental Audit Comittee on Circular Economy and e-waste on Parliamentary TV. We asked that refurbished equipment should be the default, with users asked to articulate why they needed new equipment to do their job. The latest technology is a powerful and useful tool, but refurbished options are just as good for many use cases. They should have their place in mainstream procurement.

Four years on, it looks like our wish is starting to come true. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has taken the lead in circular approaches to IT procurement in a device management tender that invites bidders to include second-user devices. This award, valued at around £132m will mark the first mainstream government procurement activity for circular IT hardware.  

“DEFRA has, as a preference, asked bidders to consider second-user devices over brand new ones, onlookers indicated to us… The chosen provider will be responsible for the provision, deployment, operation, support and disposal of devices throughout their lifecycle,” according to BuzzTalk.  

The move follows similar government initiatives in France and Ireland, which look at second user devices. France’s decree no. 2024-134 of 21 February 2024 states that 20% of computer and telephone equipment must be reconditioned and 20% must incorporate recycled materials each year. The Irish government purchased 60,000 remanufactured notebooks in 2024. 

An Approach as Much as a Product

Interestingly, this latest national government invitation to tender will go live on the Technology Services 3 framework, where public sector customers can buy technology services ranging from strategy and design to operational deployment. DEFRA confirmed that the chosen provider will be responsible for the provision, deployment, operation, support and disposal of devices throughout their lifecycle.  

This makes sense because the government department is said to be considering performance-based refresh, where devices can be cascaded between employees depending on their user-profile. A developer, for example, might need the latest technology whereas an administrator can do their job well on technology that is three or four years’ old.    

Supporting Research

We are hoping that the winning supplier will also be able to carry out component level upgrades to improve the performance of IT devices. Techbuyer’s first published paper with the University of East London in the IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Computing, highlighted that server performance can be significantly improved in servers by upgrading the CPU and doubling the RAM.  

The same principles can and should be applied to end-user devices. The wrap around consultancy and support on this is ideally covered by DEFRA’s tender. We are looking forward to this approach being the first of many in the public sector and government procurement departments. It will be great to see how this builds into wider sustainability practices for software and hardware management.  

Other Circular Trends

The Technology Products and Services (TePAS)2 framework also has a mechanism for Circular and Sustainable IT. Techbuyer has now seen a number of opportunities that allow for side-by-side quotes for new and refurbished components – and we have been able to secure the customer a cost, carbon and materials savings as a result. Whilst the practice of buying refurbished is still in the beginning phases, seeing other frameworks adopt the practice is likely to increase buyer confidence.  

Sector Action

DEFRA is the body behind the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA). This is a body that exists to ensure that digital technologies are a force to achieve the UK’s Greening Government Commitments, Net Zero Strategy, and to support the fruition of the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. It brings together government decision makers and government suppliers, large and small.  

Techbuyer has been a proud member of the GDSA since the summer of 2024 with representation from our CEO, E-waste Manager and Head of Infrastructure. Our Head of Public Sector and Sustainability represents us on the Circular Economy Working Group, capitalising on the research carried out by Techbuyer and its partners to help drive positive change in the government IT procurement.  

We will be supporting best practice on not just extending product life with refurbished assets and cascading items, but also hoping to develop the best ethical disposal methods at end of life, guiding items into the hands of those who can use them or the cutting edge recyclers. Together we can chart a path that makes technology a net benefit for people, planet and profit.  

If you want to get a handle on questions to ask around refurbished equipment, from how to buy at scale to how to navigate security concerns, download our Buyer’s Guide to Refurb free of charge. Our sales team are also on hand to give advice and suggestions on the best solution for your organisation.