Atos Sustainable Workplace research finds device lifespan can double while still delighting users

Atos releases its research on digital workplace sustainability, providing valuable insights to help organizations enhance their IT decision-making and corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. The report, “Increasing digital workplace sustainability: Data-driven strategy to accelerate progress together,” highlights high levels of waste endemic across the IT industry and also identifies a series of actions all can take to turn this around.

Since 79% of a laptop’s carbon footprint is produced during manufacturing, with each new device creating roughly 338kg CO2eq of carbon before use, life cycle extension can have a huge impact. The report initially points out that device lifecycles can be extended without compromising user satisfaction. For instance, by doing nothing but adjusting the standard refresh cycle from three to four years, enterprises can gain a 25% reduction in related emissions without downgrading device performance or user experience. Further, data-driven, condition-based device refresh combined with remanufacturing can achieve an 8-10 year lifespan.

Atos research reveals that 76% of large organisations’ laptops can be remanufactured. The remaining 24% of devices could be refurbished or recycled to contribute to the circular economy.

Atos’ study showcases the key role employees could play in IT sustainability. 75% of employees indicated they would be willing to keep their devices longer if they were aware of the environmental benefits. Nonetheless, 16% of devices are left running continuously without being turned off, emphasizing the need for better employee awareness on energy-saving practices. Additionally, carbon intensity can fluctuate up to 2.3 times during the day, indicating that informing users about the best times to use the electrical grid and switching to battery power could improve energy efficiency.

Data indicate that 57% of the ICT sector’s carbon emissions originate from devices and workplace environments. Atos, as a global leader in digital workplace, was able to analyse 28.5 million devices used by medium to large organisations, with the help of its partners Nexthink, Tier1 and Circular Computing, to offer crucial recommendations for boosting IT sustainability.

Leon Gilbert, Senior Vice President Digital Workplace, Atos said: “We wanted to leverage the vast quantities of data available to Atos and our partners to challenge convention and pinpoint new opportunities for enterprises and their IT service providers. Some findings surprised even our experts. We can now see how the financial, environmental, and social value of every device can be increased while still delighting users”.

David Welling, IT Sustainability Governance Lead, National Grid said: “Within our own organisation, we are looking at using the data from this study to drive strategic changes in behavior. Today, very few of us would consider using our laptops to impact the demand variability of the grid. Yet nobody would think twice about charging their electric vehicle overnight when demand is lower and energy is greener. If we can connect that kind of demand flexibility with ICT, we have a real opportunity to fundamentally change the greenhouse gas emissions of entire energy systems for entire countries”.

In summary, Atos research highlights that implementing sustainable management, processes and practices in the workplace doesn’t have to be lengthy or costly. Conversely, organisations may experience swift benefits from the insights provided in the study. Additionally, Atos asserts that “what we can measure, we can change” – which underlines the importance of comprehensive and real-time data to progress toward environmental objectives.