01732 759725 36 SUSTAINABILITY Steve Haskew highlights five steps businesses must take if they are to make progress towards net zero goals and turn sustainability pledges into action thirds of companies employed at least one circular economy principle in 2023. That number is expected to grow significantly this year as companies face up to the reality of their climate pledges. How a business chooses to introduce circular principles will vary greatly from sector to sector, but one area almost every business in the UK should be thinking about is IT infrastructure, and remanufacturing in particular. The environmental benefits of remanufacturing a used laptop, say, so that it is ‘like new’ in appearance and performance are overwhelming. Lifecycle analysis by Cranfield University shows that a Circular Computing remanufactured laptop produces over 15 times less CO2 than an average new laptop. In fact, choosing just one remanufactured laptop over a new one will prevent 316kg of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere, stop 1,200kg of the Earth’s resources from being mined and save over 50,000 gallons of water. Sustainability is often seen as a zerosum game, but remanufacturing delivers both financial and environmental benefits with no impact on performance. e Enhance supply chain management and transparency In assessing their environmental footprint, organisations need to consider not just their own actions but the impact of their whole supply chain, in particular Scope 3 emissions. Scope 3 emissions refer to greenhouse gasses that an organisation is indirectly responsible for up and down its value chain, such as those generated in the manufacture and distribution of products bought from suppliers as well as those associated with customers’ use of its own products or services. Calls for transparency in supply chains, from the media and investors to whistleblowers and activists, are encouraging businesses to be more discerning when choosing business partners, and more selective when running tenders. q Stress-test sustainability plans Sustainability was high on the corporate agenda in 2023, with many organisations making a commitment to be net zero by 2030 or 2050. Yet, analysis by EY shows that while 78% of the UK’s largest firms have published partially developed net zero plans, just 5% have disclosed transition plans with an appropriate level of detail. This year, businesses will need to answer key questions on strategy and execution as they translate long termthinking on sustainability into action. Doing so will require more robust net-zero plans and increase pressure on all parts of the business to identify inefficiencies and take risks on innovations that could have a meaningful impact. w Embrace the Circular Economy In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling and composting. According to research by Arup and Business in the Community (BITC), two On the road to net zero David Furby Steve Haskew Net positive result for Novatech Portsmouth firm wins inaugural sustainability award Portsmouth-based specialist IT solutions provider Novatech has won a top sustainability accolade at the inaugural Sustainability in Tech Awards. Novatech won the award for Net Zero Project of the Year after converting its 30,000 sq ft headquarters in Hamilton Road, Cosham into a net positive facility that generates more energy than it needs to run its warehouse operations, feeding surplus energy back to the national grid. As part of its drive to reduce carbon emissions, Novatech spent £500,000 improving insulation in the building; installing a 400KWh solar panel system of 825 panels; and introducing air source heat pumps and an electrical thermal unit, which has removed the need for gas-powered equipment and enabled it to become an A+ energy rated building. It also invested in employee training to help reduce the company’s energy consumption. CEO David Furby, who founded Novatech 35 years ago, said: “This accolade is a wonderful recognition of our hard work and genuine commitment to sustainability. The IT industry has had a bad name when it comes to its eco credentials, but as a business we are working hard to turn that image on its head.” In addition to its own carbon-reduction initiatives, Novatech can help clients dispose of e-waste for recycling and remanufacturing, including the donation of usable IT assets to charities and schools. Novatech delivers adaptable, high-performance computing solutions to the public sector, businesses, schools, colleges and universities in the UK and overseas. It works with organisations to provide the best IT hardware for running their critical applications. Based on 35 years of experience and detailed technical knowledge, flexible project design and partnerships with industry leading-equipment manufacturers and software houses, Novatech brings precisely the right solution for clients’ needs. www.novatech.co.uk
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