World Zero Waste Day: Actionism or wake-up call?
When the United Nations (UN) General Assembly launched the “International Day of Zero Waste” on December 14, 2022, the intention was clearly defined: The global community should develop awareness of the exorbitant amounts of waste generated each year. The introduction of the day is linked to the global zero-waste movement, which is committed to reducing waste to a minimum, conserving resources, using them more efficiently and generally living more sustainably. In fact, more than 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste are generated worldwide every year. On average, every European used around 14.9 tons of raw materials for their consumption in 2022. In many regions of the world, this waste is disposed of in the environment with no regard for losses. The effects of this are directly linked to the increase in harmful greenhouse gases caused by the slow decomposition of this waste. The position of the United Nations is clear: excessive consumption is killing us. That is why days of action, such as the International Zero Waste Day, are intended to raise awareness of the danger of more and more waste among the public.
There are many concepts for reducing or even eliminating waste in the short, medium and long term. In Germany alone, several cities, including Leipzig and Berlin, have committed to developing plans for zero waste and becoming waste-free in the future. They are starting with conscious shopping options, such as unpackaged stores or second-hand stores for furniture, toys, clothing or electronics. The concepts also include repair offers for household appliances or clothing to increase the lifespan of these goods and thus counteract overconsumption. Other simple ways and means include reusable packaging for delivery services and restaurants or coffee cups that can be used over the long term. Many start-ups are also looking at the possibilities offered by recycled waste as a material. In this way, apparent waste can be given a second life, and the amount of waste can be sensibly reduced.
Circular economy as a driver for zero waste
The circular economy plays a key role in zero waste concepts. In short, the circular economy aims to use resources efficiently, minimize waste and keep goods and materials in the economic cycle for as long as possible. This economic model therefore provides the foundation for zero-waste strategies. However, the concept of the circular economy is not a modern invention but has existed as an idea since the industrial revolution in the late 18th century. As raw materials became scarcer and consumption increased, it became imperative to reuse and repair instead of buying new. With advancing industrialization, reconstruction after both world wars and the subsequent economic growth, resource-conserving thinking faded into the background and linear economic models developed. These led to a throwaway society because replacements were always cheaper and easier to obtain. It was not until the 1970s that an awareness of the environmental impact of the throwaway society developed. Recycling, waste avoidance and an ecological circular economy were discussed for the first time. The FRG and Scandinavian countries were pioneers in this area.
In 1996, Germany introduced the Closed Substance Cycle Waste Management Act, which now also enshrined waste prevention and recycling in law. Research also focused more intensively on the positive effects of reuse. The beginning of the 21st century once again heightened awareness of the importance of the circular economy as the extent of climate change became increasingly visible. However, it took until 2015 for the first EU-wide circular economy strategy to be presented, which is still being developed and supplemented today.
What role does refurbishment play in zero-waste strategies?
Technology and IT hardware in particular are among the most resource-intensive products. The manufacture of servers, switches and routers requires rare and scarce raw materials such as copper, aluminium, gold and silver, tungsten, tin and rare earths such as neodymium, europium and lithium. A single medium-sized server, for example, requires up to 2 kilograms of copper for conductors and cables and up to 8 kilograms of aluminium and steel for housing and cooling. Added to this is the use of plastics for insulation and housing parts and, depending on the type of application, chemical cooling fluids. The amount of water needed to manufacture a processor for a server is up to 32,000 liters. The production process itself also consumes large amounts of energy. To meet the demand for network technology as digitalization progresses and at the same time conserve resources, it makes sense to rely on remanufactured network technology. The service life of these devices often exceeds the actual service life of their initial use. Simply replacing network technology without continuing to use the older devices elsewhere would be an enormous waste.
The long road to less waste
The times in which mankind can produce waste without hesitation and without being aware of the consequences are long gone. Sharp increases in greenhouse gas emissions from industry, private transport, food production and municipal waste and ever scarcer resources are alarming reasons to live more consciously and look for alternatives to overconsumption. The circular economy, which is taken seriously by both private individuals and industry, can be a way to reduce waste and waste production. The focus on second-hand and refurbished goods can also make an enormous contribution and is particularly useful for items that are still fully functional despite their used condition. Smartphones, laptops, switches and servers are good examples of items that make ecological and ethical sense to reuse rather than throw away.
Refurbished IT hardware at IT-Market as a contribution to less waste
At IT-Market.com, you can get carefully tested and refurbished network technology. We offer a large selection of IT hardware such as switches, servers, routers and communication systems. Do you need professional support? Our team will be happy to provide you with competent assistance.