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The IT world is at a turning point. The linear use of devices - buy, use, dispose of - is a thing of the past. Companies are increasingly recognizing the advantages of circular IT strategyless costs, less waste, more sustainability. But how do you make the transition to a truly circular model? Here are five recipes for success that will make your IT fit for the future.
The most important in a nutshell
- An IT circular model replaces „buy, use, dispose of“ with „use, upgrade, share, recycle“.
- Five success recipes: extend lifespan, use remarketing, shop sustainably, delete in accordance with BSI requirements, and finally recycle.
- Measurable metrics such as lifetime and reuse rates make the success visible – also in the ESG report.
1. Extending the service life: repairing instead of replacing
The simplest measure in the cycle model is often the most effective: Use existing hardware for longer.
Regular maintenance, upgrades and repairs can significantly extend the service life of your appliances - and thus protect both the environment and your budget.
👉 Tip: Create a maintenance plan for your devices and check whether defective hardware can be repaired before you purchase a replacement.
2. Use remarketing: Passing on IT devices
What is old for your company could be a gain for others. Used IT hardware such as laptops, desktops or servers often still have a high residual value. Professional remarketing service providers ensure that your devices are safely refurbished and returned to the market.
👉 Advantage: In addition to additional income, you improve your Resource balance and reduce electronic waste. More about IT remarketing experience.
3. Resource-saving purchases: Focus on sustainability
Even when buying new hardware, it is worth taking a look at its Sustainability profile. Choose appliances that are modular, made with recycled materials and can be easily repaired. Certificates such as Energy Star, TCO Certified, EPEAT or the Blue Angels help with the selection.
👉 Best Practice: Work with suppliers who offer take-back programs for old appliances.
4. BSI-compliant data erasure: combining security and circulation
One hurdle for many companies when reselling or reusing old hardware is the issue of Data security. Certified service providers offer BSI-compliant data deletion that reliably remove all sensitive information. This allows devices to be safely returned to the cycle.
👉 Recommendation: Rely on providers with verifiable certifications to avoid data protection risks. More about Data deletion experience.
5. Recycling as the last step: waste nothing
If an appliance can really no longer be used, it should not be thrown away. Instead, it belongs in the professional Recycling cyclewhere valuable raw materials such as metals and rare earths can be recovered.
👉 Pro Tip: Choose recycling partners who offer transparent processes and a high recovery rate.
Für den letzten Schritt zählt die Wahl des Partners: Was ein zertifizierter Entsorgungsfachbetrieb leisten muss.
This is how you measure the success of your IT for the circulatory system
What is not measured rarely improves. With a few key metrics, you can see whether your circulatory model is working:
| Indicator | What it shows | Where the data comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Average lifespan | How long devices remain in use | Inventory list (date of purchase and disposal) |
| Re-use rate | Share of old devices that are reused instead of recycled | Evaluation by your remarketing partner |
| Evidence of rescue | Whether deletion is recorded for each device (goal: 100 %) | Certificate of destruction by serial number |
| Revenue per unit sold | Economic contribution of the cycle | Purchase invoice |
| Disposal certificates | Whether non-usable devices were properly recycled | Recycling and disposal certificates |
Second IT provides you with these proofs: deletion certificates per device, audit reports in the customer portal, recycling and disposal certificates, and an annual individual environmental balance. Devices that can no longer be refurbished are sent to our recycling partner. IT hardware recycling; Everything else is included in Refurbishment prepared for a second life.
Conclusion: The path to closed-loop IT is worthwhile
A closed-loop model for your IT brings numerous benefits: you cut costs, reduce waste and strengthen your sustainable corporate strategy. The key is to take the right steps and have them supported by professionals.
Are you ready to make your IT fit for the future? Start now with an inventory of your current hardware and rely on Sustainable strategiesthat pay off - for your company and the planet.
More on the topic: Choosing an ITAD provider: 12 questions to avoid common pitfalls and Scope-3 emissions: Why your IT hardware is included.
Frequently asked questions about the IT cycle model
What is an IT cycle model?
An IT circular model – often called circular IT – keeps devices and raw materials circulating for as long as possible. Devices are maintained, upgraded, and passed on after internal use. Only at the end does recycling take place, where raw materials are recovered. This reduces costs and waste, while simultaneously reducing CO₂ emissions.
How do data protection and reuse fit together?
Very good – if the data can be deleted in a verifiable manner. Certified software like Blancco removes all data and creates a deletion certificate for each device. This allows you to hand over the device without any worries. Data media that cannot be erased are destroyed in accordance with DIN 66399.
What happens to devices that are no longer repairable?
They go into IT hardware recycling. A certified waste disposal company disassembles the equipment, separates harmful substances, and processes metals, plastics, and glass for recycling. Before that, data carriers are deleted or destroyed. They provide you with waste disposal certificates for your documents.
Close the loop of your IT.
Send us your list of devices. We will take care of pickup, certified destruction, processing, and proper recycling – with all the documentation.
