When we hear statistics like 900 metric tons of plastic going to the ocean every hour, it can be easy to become dismayed. But there is a ray of hope when larger corporations show their willingness to spearhead the fight against these evils that plague our planet. With these examples, we can see how personal responsibility spurs larger businesses into action. And this amplification is the only way to bring the kind of change that’s necessary for the future of our planet.

The bigger they are… the more trash they make

The reason it is so important to get businesses involved—and corporations in particular—has to do with the sheer numbers of people (and devices) these entities manage. Capturing the electronic devices that come through a mid-to-large business ITAM program is the first step in eliminating huge amounts e-waste. Every bit counts, of course, but with larger corporations, the results can be amazing.

When businesses think “green” about their IT assets, a significant number of electronic devices get a chance at something more than just a trip to the dump. Just think of the number of monitors and CPUs in your office building right now; without taking ownership of the inherent value of those devices, all those assets could all wind up becoming part of the problem. It just makes good sense. Nevermind that, as sustainability becomes a mainstream idea, the growing expectations of your customers and employees is for environmental responsibility to guide your disposition program.

Taking ownership has never been easier

Companies today are changing to adapt to a new sense of personal responsibility. As society becomes increasingly concerned with sustainability—to some, bordering on religion—it is easy to see why sustainability initiatives like Coke and Unilever’s exist. But there is another factor that is making the old method of “make, use, dispose” unacceptable.

Thanks to the efforts of the Basel Action Network (BAN), the stark realities of what happens to most business’s “recycled” IT assets has made the news. And this news has been creating positive change in the IT industry. As a result, many recyclers are moving to the e-Stewards certification that holds recyclers to what the Basel Convention says is toxic waste—a far more robust list than any other certifications offer.

There is also no shortage of examples in the corporate world (all the way down to small business) on how to have an effective sustainability approach to the IT assets your company manages. We can see everything from grand campaigns and company restructuring, to organizing support groups and holding collection events as ways to engage companies. But each of these examples have one thing in common: personal ownership.

The secret sauce of successful sustainability

Personal ownership is why Sage was first created. Our owners Jill Vaské and Bob Houghton have sustainability written in their DNA—because it’s that important to them. And this sense of personal responsibility guides every decision made throughout the company. It’s really no different for your company; success comes from your ownership of what matters most to you. So, imagine what owning your e-waste could do for your corner of the environment.

How is your ITAM program at eliminating e-waste? Or do you need a partner who can make the most of your IT assets to get started? Contact us today to see what we can do for your company’s e-waste. You might be the inspiration for other companies with your story.