Old hardware, new life: Social-ecological impact with IT devices

Too often, old devices are simply thrown away. Yet there are ways to extend the life of hardware or save valuable raw materials through recycling. This is not only part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, but also a key aspect of sustainable action that thyssenkrupp Materials Services is pursuing. In November 2023, the materials distribution and service provider therefore partnered up AfB gemeinnützige GmbH – an IT refurbisher dedicated to the refurbishment and recycling of hardware.

Reaching the goal together

Last year, thyssenkrupp Materials Services was faced with the question of how to dispose of or recycle IT hardware that was no longer required. Usually, high costs are associated with collection and the devices are often simply thrown away afterwards. Not particularly sustainable. A different solution was therefore needed. Conveniently, AfB, Europe's largest non-profit IT company, has set itself the task of refurbishing and recycling used devices. Dirk Lehrach, Head of IT Sourcing & Licensing, and Marcel Spitzer, IT specialist, from thyssenkrupp Materials Services report that they quickly agreed on the decision to partner with AfB: “We are pursuing the same strategic goal: sustainable action that makes an important contribution to the circular economy. The process is well thought out from the costs to the services through to the result and works perfectly – the overall concept simply fits,” says Spitzer.

With success: Since October 2023, a total of 3,363 devices have been collected at thyssenkrupp Materials Services and picked up by AfB – including printers, monitors and tablets, corresponding to a total weight of 6.7 tons. The hardware is then repaired and prepared for recycling. If this is not possible, AfB takes care of the recovery of raw materials through recycling or uses individual components as spare parts for other devices.

But does the correct disposal of electronic waste really reduce the carbon footprint? The results show: If the scrap is properly separated and recycled, the positive effects are enormous. Within the framework of the partnership, 14 percent of important raw materials for example were saved in just eleven months. This includes, above all, the 2.5 million liters less water consumption that resulted. And even more: Around 375 tons of CO₂ have been saved. This corresponds to around 300 flights on a route from Berlin to New York.

Sustainability All Inclusive

For the colleagues at thyssenkrupp Materials Services, however, it was not only the ecological effect that was important when choosing a suitable partner: AfB also places great emphasis on inclusion. Among other things, the inclusive company promotes jobs for people with disabilities. The employees take care of the hardware recycling. The partnerships make a major contribution to this. For example, the partnership with the Essen-based materials distribution and service provider has helped to secure five employees with disabilities since the start of the collaboration.

The partnership between AfB and thyssenkrupp Materials Services contributes to the BEYOND sustainability strategy. In doing so, thyssenkrupp Materials Services is guided by the internationally recognized ESG criteria (Environmental, Social, Governance), but thinks sustainability beyond standards.