Responsible IT Asset Disposition

A pathway to corporate sustainability and impact

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E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, posing critical environmental challenges. Improper disposal methods such as landfilling or inefficient recycling lead to toxic emissions, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. This piece of writing authored by Dr Abhinav Mathur and Major General K Narayanan explicates how this waste, often considered a liability, could be transformed into an asset by adopting simple yet far-reaching sustainable solutions.

In an increasingly digital world, businesses consistently upgrade and replace IT assets to remain competitive. From employee laptops and servers to data storage devices, the global volume of IT asset disposal has reached staggering levels. According to the Global E-Waste Monitor, over 61.3 million metric tonnes of E-waste were generated globally in 2023, which amounts to about 1600 laptops getting discarded per second. The amount of E-waste generated is projected to grow by an estimated 2 million tonnes annually. These discarded assets need not be treated merely as surplus or waste; they represent a strategic opportunity to meaningful impact sustainability, social responsibility, and data security.

The Sustainability Imperative in IT Asset Management

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, posing critical environmental challenges. Improper disposal methods such as landfilling or inefficient recycling lead to toxic emissions, resource depletion, and environmental degradation.