Espria says UK schools are missing an opportunity to benefit from carbon offsetting costs through refurbished IT

Espria, a managed IT services provider, encourages the education sector to use refurbished laptops within their device provision to make a significant contribution to the reduction of the sector’s carbon footprint and strides towards the net-zero goals announced by the Government last year.

Recently announcing their own plans to replace employee laptops and monitors with British Standards Institute (BSI) certified refurbished devices, Espria plans to increase its current 65% refurbished usage rate to 100% over the next three years, reducing landfill e-waste, carbon emissions and water.

BSI has certified the refurbished devices with a Kitemark, one of the world’s most well-established marks of trust. Having a trusted third party verify the quality and consistency of each device builds an additional layer of confidence on top of the other considerations of purchasing refurbished hardware.

Clinton Groome, Chief Operating Officer at Espria said, “Many still believe that second-hand means lower quality. This is not the case. The BSI Kitemarked refurbished devices we use, and also supply to our customers, have all undergone rigorous audits and testing. They’re each built to our specifications, delivering the same “out of the box” experience expected with new purchases but with added planet wins. 

Using one refurbished laptop (HP 840 G5) is typically equivalent to 275 kgs of carbon avoided and can also be included in Carbon Tax submissions to offset costs.”

To bring to life the sustainable benefits of purchasing refurbished devices, Espria, as part of the consultation process, are able to share the value of carbon offsetting, mitigated electronic and production waste, and litres of water saved.

In addition to the sustainable benefits refurbished devices bring, businesses can also take advantage of the Espria Buy-Back programme to reduce cybersecurity risks. Trading-in old devices guarantees extensive cleaning and data sanitisation, ensuring legacy data is completely wiped from every device, mitigating the potential security risks that come with basic wipes or storing devices in company cupboards.

Groome added: “Using refurbished devices is an easy way your business can make a significant impact on climate change. Choosing this option reduces electronic waste, minimises carbon footprint, and contributes towards the lifespan of electronics – ultimately helping you reach sustainability goals and where Carbon Tax is applicable, can contribute to significant savings.

By not only urging our customers to consider refurbished solutions but taking the step ourselves, we aim to reduce our e-waste and support our clients’ businesses in their ESG goals. We are determined to do all we can to work with our partners and clients to play our part in a more sustainable future.”