An eco-friendly IT company? Most would find the concept peculiar. After all, IT companies aren't renowned for cutting down trees or emitting copious amounts of noxious waste into the atmosphere.
And yet, this was the call made by Keith Anderson, chief operating officer of Axiz, at the recent ITA e-waste conference held at Futurex: for all IT companies and users, no matter their size or focus, to become not only environmentally conscious but, more importantly, environmentally friendly.
As an IT infrastructure distributor, Axiz is renowned for its passion for the environment and the concrete steps it has personally put in place to conserve it.
The company is now taking its message out into the industry and beyond: into the homes and offices of both IT providers and users, offering them simple, yet effective ways to do their bit for the environment.
Anderson is one of Axiz's eco-efficiency champions. He spoke at the ITA e-waste conference at Futurex, and has also been invited to make a presentation on the concept of "e-waste" in Mauritius later this month.
"Eco-efficiency calls for all of us to reduce material and energy-intensive goods and services, as well as our toxic dispersion into the environment. It also creates the challenge of enhancing material recyclability, increasing material durability and maximising our sustainable use of renewable resources," he says.
"The IT industry isn't traditionally seen as one that has a significant negative impact on the environment - as compared to the motor industry, for example. The reality of the matter, however, is that each of us, no matter what industry we're in, has a negative impact on the environment every day. We have to find new and innovative ways to adapt what we do to become more environmentally-friendly."
But what exactly does that entail for the IT sector? "It's about more than getting everyone in the office to recycle paper," explains Anderson. "As an industry, we need to look at redesigning our products and/or processes to bring them in line with sustainability principles, as well as rethinking our current production policies."
On a practical level, 'cleaner' and 'greener' production involves IT infrastructure manufacturers reviewing their production process so as to conserve raw materials and energy, and eliminate any toxic raw materials that they might use.
It also involves reducing the quantity and toxicity of all emissions and waste. As IT infrastructure distributors, companies such as Axiz can influence this process in terms of creating guidelines and minimum requirements for its suppliers, and assisting them in coming up with innovative solutions.
As for the products themselves, Anderson says there is huge potential to reduce the negative impacts along the entire life cycle of the product - from the raw materials used to its ultimate disposal: hence the concept of e-waste.
Most companies and home users don't know what to do with their old IT equipment. Recycling is often not considered a possibility, and most equipment ends up either lying in an old cupboard somewhere until you find someone to donate it to, or outside on the pavement with the rest of the rubbish.
This is, again, where IT infrastructure manufacturers and distributors like Axiz, for example, can get involved - not only by offering to supply new equipment, but also assisting with the disposal of what is being replaced. Reviewing product design can also help immeasurably in this regard, with products specifically made for easy disassembly, product re-use and recycling.
E-waste is not something new, according to Anderson. It's a challenge that's being grappled with by the IT community around the world.
In 1993, a working group from Swico (Swiss Association for Information, Communication and Organisation Technology) was established to address the issue of e-waste in Switzerland. Comprising producers, government and consumer organisation representatives, solutions suggested ranged from a common voluntary system to consumers paying recycling fees in advance when purchasing new products.
With companies like Axiz leading the fight to save the environment by example, and with innovation a standard feature of the IT industry, Anderson believes that it's just a matter of time before the sector in South Africa steps up to the challenge and makes a significant contribution to saving our environment.
Share
Established in 1989, Axiz is an ICT infrastructure distributor whose product range comprises in-campus computing infrastructure, namely servers, desktops, mobiles, printers, networking, storage, memory, peripherals, components and consumables. The company enables customer efficiency and productivity through its partners by merging technology with intelligence, and providing quality products. By equipping its reseller partners with innovative thinking and technology intelligence, Axiz is at the forefront of technology thought leadership. The company innovates by constantly challenging and pushing boundaries and turning its people's knowledge and expertise into keen insights that strengthen its reseller partners' success, improve people's lives and achieve prosperity for everyone in its various communities.
Axiz is committed to building a sustainable company, actively contributing to a sustainable economy for South Africa, and the African continent by dynamically living the Five Capitals Model of Sustainability. The company has already become a pioneer, innovator and leader in its sector through the implementation of its Ledibogo Programme; its Business Partner Development Programme, as well as other initiatives such as founding and supporting Inqolobane (the Employee Ownership Association Africa, www.eoaa.co.za) and Qhubeka (the Motive Power Movement, www.qhubeka.com).
Editorial contacts