– Sustainability issues we target
Environmental and social risks with IT products
Today, we produce and use IT products in a linear way, leading to virgin natural resources being depleted to manufacture products that often have a short lifespan before they are discarded. This contributes to the climate crisis and enormous amounts of toxic e-waste.
Conflict minerals used in IT products are known to fuel wars and human rights abuses. Hazardous substances present a wide variety of risks. Also, social responsibility issues occur throughout the supply chain. From raw-materials extraction to final assembly, working hours, health and safety, and forced labor are just a few examples of problems that need to be addressed.
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Sustainability issues connected to IT products
IT products come with numerous social and environmental challenges throughout their life cycle. The current and linear take-use-waste model creates pollutants and depletes natural resources, affecting both human health and the environment.
The State of Socially Responsible Manufacturing in the IT Industry
Increasingly, IT-using organizations are looking for computer products that are environmentally preferable and made under socially responsible conditions. Yet, shorter product cycles and growing demand for new technologies puts increasing pressure on industry and its complex supply chain to deliver new devices faster and at a lower cost. The result is often inadequate working conditions in electronics manufacturing, including long working hours, low wages and a lack of health and safety measures. The problem is widespread and well publicized through media and NGO monitoring.
E-Waste: hazardous to the environment and human health
A new study on the effects of E-waste on human health reveals serious negative outcomes for those dismantling and handling components of discarded electronics. The study, published by the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden, details that workers, some as young as six years of age, are routinely exposed to hazardous materials and inhalation of toxic gases through direct handling of discarded electronics. People affected by this health crisis are mostly in areas where there is little knowledge about the health risks and in many cases no basic health care or social protections.
