What role does IT play in driving sustainability?
It has been reported that a reduction in commuting could reduce carbon emissions by 60%. This is expected to have a bearing on the adoption of hybrid working, particularly as most employees prefer to work for companies with a strong ethical approach to climate change and sustainability.
Building a greener world.
Of 250 IT decision-makers surveyed by Acer, 85% said that they wanted to continue the adoption of the hybrid-working model into the future. This is hardly surprising, given the environmental benefits of remote work that have emerged during the pandemic. Research has indicated that the reduced commuting resulted in a significant drop in greenhouse gas emissions during 2020.
With transportation generating 14% of global GHG emissions, the reduction of commuter emissions is considered key to a sustainable future and the achievement of net zero. This has been further evidenced by research of 815 employees across pre and post-Covid periods. Remote working was found to reduce commuting emissions by 43% in 2019 and 97% in 2020, generating a reduction of 1.9 tonnes of CO2e per person over the study period.
IT-decision makers are being encouraged to consider their purchasing priorities, given that a future abatement of 60% could be achieved with a widespread shift to hybrid working. Appropriate support, collaboration tools and equipment will be essential if such flexible working styles are to prove a success.
Altered IT-buying priorities.
Responding to the Acer survey, 62% of the decision-makers confirmed performance as the most important selection criteria, with 53% prioritising battery life, and price/value for money at 41%. The decreased need for work-based travel may explain the lesser focus on device weight and portability.
The research also revealed a concerning lack of focus on sustainability, with less than 25% saying that energy consumption or carbon footprint factored in their “top 5” decision-making criteria when selecting new devices. However, this is expected to change as organisations adopt carbon-reduction plans and include IT in their plans to achieve net-zero operations.
Hybrid and eco-friendly devices from Acer.
Acer is leading the way in the development of eco-friendly devices for the hybrid-working generation. Independent benchmarking has revealed the Acer Spin 513 LTE to be 84% more energy efficient than legacy desktop devices and up to 50% more efficient than comparable modern devices. The Acer Aspire Vero Notebook has also been launched, with post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic being used throughout the device’s chassis and keyboard caps.
Acer’s environmental commitment has extended to recycled paper for packaging, saving 8,750 kg of paper pulp and 20 million plastic bags. What’s more, Acer has recycled and remanufactured over 50 metric tonnes of batteries. Easily accessible, standardized
screws have been integrated in the design of the notebook for a simpler disassembly process, extending the useful life of the device and supporting “right to repair” initiatives.
