Procurri is one of the IT channels’ leaders in IT Asset Disposition, and it’s a service we wax lyrical about at every given opportunity. However, responsible and sustainable ITAD processes remain far from the status quo around the world, and so our team often find themselves attempting to explain somewhat difficult and convoluted concepts when asked about it. Here, we simplify the concept of responsible ITAD and give detail on exactly why we find it so important.
What does ITAD stand for?
ITAD is an industry acronym standing for ‘IT Asset Disposition’, or sometimes ‘IT Asset Disposal’. This refers to the practice of disposal of unused or unwanted IT hardware, considering its security and environmental impacts as e-waste. Depending on the business and their in-house facilities, some choose to process their own ITAD whereas others outsource such services to specialist providers such as Procurri.
Is ITAD not just ‘throwing away’ old hardware?
Far from it! While traditionally ITAD processing involved simply the safe disposal of hardware, Procurri takes an approach that prioritizes sustainability and the preservation of inherent asset value. This means that when hardware does need to be disposed of, it is passed to a specialist zero-to-landfill disposal firm. Otherwise, it may be:
- Recycled for parts
- Refurbished for reuse
- Remarketed and resold.
This allows for a more environmentally friendly approach and less e-waste to be created overall. It’s just one way in which Procurri operates as a certified Carbon Neutral business!
What hardware does ITAD process?
Almost any IT hardware device can be processed through ITAD – including servers, networking equipment, storage, physical computers and laptops, smartphones and tablets. In the case of disposal or recycling, the hardware is broken down into its composite pieces and materials and processed, so just about any device can go through ITAD.
Why is ITAD important?
ITAD is becoming an increasingly important concept and process, particularly as technology develops, business demands grow, and hardware requirements shift. The following are just some of the key reasons why robust and sustainable ITAD should be a priority for businesses worldwide:
Rising e-waste levels
Society’s growing reliance on technology has seen the levels of e-waste globally increase rapidly. In 2022, it was estimated that some 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced – that’s an 82% increase since 2010 and is the equivalent of filling 1.5 million 40-tonne trucks with unwanted electronics! Now, e-waste forms the fastest growing waste steam in the world, and is expected to reach 120 million tonnes per annum by 2050. However, as fast as these levels of waste have risen, the industry hasn’t seen a proportionate rise in the levels of proper collection, recycling and refurbishment; which remains at a small percentage.
E-waste poses a vast problem for the environment. When not properly disposed of, e-waste can leak dangerous and toxic materials into the ground and negatively impact the environment around them. Historically, businesses have outsourced their ITAD processing to companies operating in third world countries who just dump the hardware without the necessary safeguarding – which can have devastating effects on already suffering communities.
Almost all hardware devices reaching ITAD processing providers can be broken down into parts and recycled, if not refurbished. It’s estimated, however, that just 22% of all e-waste is recycled in this way, with the remaining amount going to landfill.
Procurri operates its ITAD services on a zero-to-landfill basis, always prioritizing recycling and reuse over disposal.
Remarketing can result in value added back to the business
It is often just assumed that once a piece of IT hardware reaches the end of its life, it is useless; and that its final cost to the business owning it will be to dispose of it. This needn’t be the case with us. Procurri takes a different approach.
As a complete lifecycle provider, Procurri also sells hardware… in fact, we have the biggest independent hardware stockholding in the world! As such, customers of our ITAD services are able to tap into our vast network of buyers and global market reach and allow us to effectively remarket and resell your surplus or decommissioned hardware. We refurbish hardware where we can, list it on our marketplace and pay the customer the residual value straight back into their account – generating revenue where many had never considered it could be.
Our Hardware solutions empower businesses to maximize the value of their pre-owned IT equipment. Procurri’s. With our rigorous testing and certification processes, we ensure that only quality hardware is made available to buyers, providing them with reliable and cost-effective solutions for their IT needs.
The growth of a circular economy
The concept of a ‘circular economy’ is one which encourages using products and materials for as long as possible to ‘sweat’ as much value from them as can be done. This includes the processes of reusing, repairing, refurbishing and extending the life of products through different means – in turn reducing overconsumption and unnecessary production.
Opting for an ITAD provider that prioritizes reuse, recycle and refurbishment over simple disposal helps grow a circular economy and can be listed in business’ ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting as a positive indication of contribution toward this.
Secure data erasure
One of the most important concerns of IT hardware undergoing ITAD processes is what happens with the data stored within it. If data erasure is not enacted properly or robustly, critical data could still be accessed after processing – which poses a huge risk for data breaches, identity theft and security vulnerabilities. The failure to properly destroy data can and has cost companies millions of dollars (or other currency) in fines, legal fees and compensation; and that’s before the resulting reputational damage is considered.
There are a great deal of regulations in place specifying how data should be removed from hardware when no longer in use, but it’s key that businesses understand how their ITAD provider is dealing with it. At Procurri, we tailor the data sanitization method used to the needs of the business and the features of the hardware. This includes processing at our secure ITAD facilities through physical destruction (crushing, bending, shredding), degaussing, data erasure programming, cryptographic erasure and data masking. All data-bearing hardware is issued with a data sanitization certificate upon completion to verify its status.
Guaranteed regulatory compliance
There are a myriad of international and location-specific regulations in place worldwide that stipulate the best practices and basic requirements for businesses managing e-waste – focusing on both their environmental and security impacts.
At Procurri, we work with the best practice regulations globally to ensure that everything is adhered to and certified as such; avoiding any potential fines or legal penalties for the business. This includes full adherence to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, Cyber Essentials, R2, ADISA, NIST, DoD, NAID AAA, HMG Infosec 5 and any other applicable regional standards.
Avoiding ITAD for as long as possible
Conventionally, businesses have been forced to change their server, storage and networking hardware when its OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) states that it has reached its EOSL (End of Service Life) point and no longer offer support, patches or upgrades for it. At this point, most have sought out ITAD services and re-purchase newer equipment sold by the same OEM. Traditionally, this cycle has lasted between 3-5 years.
Now that technology is developing and able to last longer, along with an enhanced focus on business spending, more businesses are choosing to keep using their data center hardware past its EOSL point – instead opting for a Third Party Maintenance provider who offers the same updates, patches and support for the assets no matter how old they get. Procurri is one such provider, and our services have seen assets sweated for up to double their usual lifespan! Get in touch to learn more on delaying the disposal of your IT assets for as long as possible and deriving as much value from them as you can.
Why work with Procurri for ITAD services
No other provider in the channel can quite offer ITAD services like Procurri. Operating on a Carbon Neutral basis, we guarantee that even hardware that can no longer be used will go to landfill. Furthermore, we operate worldwide with a presence in 200+ countries. We offer:
- Secure transportation for all hardware from your site to our secure ITAD facilities
- 24/7/365 support with our ‘follow-the-sun’ model of customer service
- Custom SLAs to meet your needs
- Demonstrated track record and numerous success stories from customers
- Access to specialist Level 4 technicians and engineers
- Full transparency and tracking of all assets from collection through to eventual resale/recycle/disposal
- Guaranteed data erasure with no chance of recovery.
Want to learn more on an ITAD provider that offers unbeatable environmental and security consideration? Get in touch with our team today!