The Greening of the IT Sector

Incorporating environmental values into an already innovative sector

TEXT: GERBEN BLOEMENDAL

Following the issuing of a plethora of regulations, the Dutch IT sector has been forced to face up to its environmental responsibilities. The aim of ICT~Milieu is not only to assist its members in this cause, but also to anticipate the upcoming regulations regarding energy saving and CO2 reduction. Jan Vlak from ICT~Milieu explains how an innately innovative sector can apply its ingenuity to the environmental arena.
A sector with a turnover of 30 billion euros, 250,000 employees, 20 million kilos of waste and 7 percent of the total energy consumption of the Netherlands: that is the Dutch IT sector. The ICT~Milieu Foundation assists IT manufacturers and importers in collecting their waste. The IT collection system is a logistical system for collecting, sorting and processing used IT equipment. ICT~Milieu is a subsidiary of ICT~Office, a trade association of over 500 IT, Telecom, Internet and Office companies in the Netherlands. the nationwide collection service in the Netherlands. He explains: Since 2005, manufacturers and importers of electronic goods are required to organize and finance the collection and recycling of these goods. This has been established by the Resolution on Electronic Goods, which regulates the processing of discarded electronic goods, as well as the use of certain chemicals in equipment. We take care of the entire recycling process for our affiliated companies. Does that mean that consumers can approach manufacturers when they want to get rid of their old equipment? Vlak: Thats right. Businesses can go to corporate waste collectors, who will in turn pass on the costs of collecting and recycling to the manufacturer. We coordinate the collection of discarded equipment via the corporate waste collector. Consumers can bring their discarded equipment to stores and municipal collection points. In 2007, we collected 20.5 million kilograms in total of electronic waste up from 18 million in 2006. What else does ICT~Milieu do for its members? Vlak: We promote environmental consciousness in our member organizations. Furthermore, we handle financial and administrative matters and the yearly monitoring

Nationwide collection
Jan Vlak is the General Director of ICT~Milieu and coordinates

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and reporting for the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the Netherlands.

Green accountability
How do you stimulate attention for environmental accountability? Vlak: We want to exceed the set standards. The IT sector has always been an innovative one. For that reason, we present the case to our affiliates as a matter of business. ICT~Milieu shows that recycling is not only feasible, it is considered the norm. In addition,

continuing our strive for social and environmental resolve.

Recycling and Reusing

What happens to the waste that is collected? Vlak: The used IT equipment is recycled. After processing, 97 percent ends up being reused. In so doing, ICT~Milieu more

Innovations
Does that mean that your knowledge and expertise go beyond just recycling matters? Vlak: Yes. An example of an opportunity that is yet to be seized lies within the municipalities. Our IT knowledge could prove

We need to investigate how we can generate new business, while at the same time continuing our strive for social and environmental accountability.

than satisfies the 75 percent requirement by law. The equipment is milled into so-called e-scrap. This e-scrap is sent to the refinery, where precious metals are extracted. And because oil prices are so high, it is also worthwhile to remove the synthetic materials. These can be added to new synthetics in the form of granules.

new materials are created in the process, including metals, raw materials and fuels. And all this is available at a very attractive price. Such factors serve as a very effective form of encouragement for the sector. To us, corporate social responsibility (CSR) means that we need to investigate how we can generate new business, while at the same time

to be helpful in developing their environmental policy. Energy can be saved by employing innovative techniques. This includes energy saving measures for data centres, as well as IT applications that contribute to energy savings in other sectors. We view IT as a sort of enabling technology. On 28 May, we will sign a

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covenant with Dutch State Secretary Heemskerk that entails what we, as the IT sector, can achieve in the future. In collaboration with the government, we will decide on a plan that details where we want to be in 2020/2030. The purpose is to transform the IT sector into a green sector. Our members will need to contribute ideas for this purpose. To give further recognition to what we do, we have created an ICT~Milieu Award. Some excellent ideas have been submitted to us for this competition.

be more energy efficient, but attention is also being paid to making materials more recyclable. A computer manufactured ten years ago, for example, contained 35 different types of synthetic material; today, that number is six. On a granule level, the sorting could be even more efficient.

Vlak: For example, we have conducted research about used IT hardware that disappears from rubbish bins and ends up as unintended e-waste in Africa. Based on this data, the Ministry is able to reconsider its policy. So the trick then is to integrate environmental objectives with innovation policies? Vlak: The IT sector is an innovative one. To maintain this reputation, we need to be ambitious in the environmental arena and surpass the regulations issued by the government.

Taking initiative
Who must take the initiative in environmental affairs: the government or the business world? Vlak: A bit of both. We have recently chosen, in collaboration with the government, to create a covenant in which these sorts of issues are decided upon. Almost all environmental regulations come from the European government, which form the basis of our own decisions and resolutions. For our part, we contribute our own advice and viewpoints, and those of our members, to the Ministries of Economic Affairs and of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in particular. What sort of advice do you give to the ministries?

Profit
In which areas can profit be gained in the coming years? Vlak: Well, for example, in the manner in which we handle the cooling of data centres and product design. In other countries we see that much thought goes into choosing the location of data centres. For example, by placing these next to a river, water power can be employed. There is also a lot already happening in the field of product design. Not only is hardware being designed to

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