Carbon Accounting for IT Refresh: Measuring Scope 3 from Device Turnover

When it comes to measuring your organization’s environmental impact, carbon accounting is among the most effective tools available. As the process of measuring, tracking, and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, carbon accounting plays a key role in IT asset management by providing the information to measure and report IT-related GHG emissions. This data can then be used to drive decisions on procurement, lifecycle management, and other business activities. For example, IT refresh cycles such as upgrading laptops, desktops, and servers can significantly influence an organization’s carbon footprint.

Scope 3 emissions are also an important factor in carbon accounting, but as the category that includes supply chain and end-of-life impacts, they often go overlooked. In this blog, we’ll explore how to measure and mitigate Scope 3 emissions tied to device turnover.

Scope 3 emissions in an IT context

When measuring emissions, there are three main scopes to consider.

Scope 1

This category refers to direct GHG emissions from sources an organization controls or owns, such as vehicles, boilers, and other equipment. Examples include fuel burned from company-owned vehicles, emissions from onsite turbines or boilers, and process emissions from onsite manufacturing.

Scope 2

This scope includes indirect GHG emissions from electricity, steam, heat, or cooling that an organization purchases and consumes. In other words, these emissions aren’t from the organization’s own equipment, but from the energy of its utility provider. Examples include the energy that powers lights, air conditioning, computers, and other appliances or devices.

Scope 3

Scope 3 emissions come from goods and services that have been purchased, as well as business travel, employee commuting, and waste disposal. These emissions can make up 75% of an organization’s overall carbon footprint.

While each category is worth measuring to gain detailed insights into your environmental impact, Scope 3 specifically is relevant to IT because it includes purchased goods and services embodied carbon in new devices, waste generated via e-waste disposal, and the end-of-life treatment of sold products.

Measuring the carbon impact of device turnover

To understand your organization’s Scope 3 GHG emissions related to device turnover, you’ll need to collect several key data points, including:

• The number and type of devices purchased, replaced, or retired
• Manufacturer-provided product carbon footprints (can be found on most manufacturers’ websites and product labels, or through third-party sources and public databases, such as the Carbon Catalogue)
• Transportation and logistics data for inbound and outbound shipments
• Device lifespan assumptions

Additionally, several frameworks and tools are available to assist you with these calculations, including the GHG Protocol for Scope 3 guidance, ISO 14064 standards, and software tools designed specifically for emission tracking (CarbonScope, Ecovadis, or Sphera). We also have a previous blog which offers a step-by-step guide for calculating the carbon footprint of common IT equipment.

Strategies to reduce the Scope 3 impact of device turnover

Calculating the carbon impact of your organization’s device turnover gives you a baseline metric. Once you have that data, you can begin implementing strategies to reduce future emissions, and then measure them again in the future.

Here are some approaches to consider:

• Extend the lifecycles of your devices through refurbishment and upgrades whenever possible, instead of defaulting to full replacements.
• Purchase from low-carbon manufacturers that use recycled materials or renewable energy in production.
• Implement a circular IT program that involves:
  • Asset recovery and certified recycling
  • Buy-back or resale programs
  • Donation and reuse initiatives
• Optimize device refresh policies by shifting from fixed-cycle to need-based replacement.
• Partner with IT asset disposition (ITAD) providers who offer carbon reporting and ensure responsible reuse and recycling.

Tracking and reducing Scope 3 emissions from IT turnover is environmentally responsible and strategically smart. If you’re seeking ways to reduce your organization’s GHG emissions related to IT, allow Quantum to help. In addition to using sustainable e-waste recycling solutions, we also help organizations extend their devices’ lifespans through reuse when possible and provide a GHG emissions calculator to help you better understand the impact of your ITAD activities. Find out more about our solutions for businesses here.