Colt wins 2024 circular economy transition of the year award
Published by Colt Technology Services on September 10, 2024
We’re excited to announce that we have won the circular economy transition of the year award for the EMEA region at the 2024 Sustainable Company Awards. The award recognises the success of the pilot metals recycling project we launched in Sweden.
The Environmental Finance Sustainable Company Awards seek to shine a light on those companies that are actively driving change in their approach to responsibility and sustainability, pivoting their resources, operations and entire business model to align or even push past sustainability and climate targets.
The circular economy transition of the year award recognises outstanding initiatives that demonstrate significant progress towards circular economy principles. This category celebrates organisations or projects that have successfully implemented innovative strategies to reduce waste, maximise resource efficiency, and foster sustainable practices.
Award win following metals recycling pilot
The focal point of our entry for the Sustainable Company Awards in the circular economy transition of the year category was a pilot metals recycling project we initiated in Sweden. The pilot was so successful that we have now rolled it out further across the business.
As a part of a wider end-of-life project, back in 2023 we partnered with metals recycling company Urban Miners to recycle decommissioned SDH equipment (IT hardware) during a network upgrade in Sweden. Our strategy was to focus on minimising environmental impact by recovering valuable materials, thereby reducing the need for new mining activities.
Innovative approach and results
Our approach for the pilot involved reverse manufacturing processes. First, we carefully deconstructed each piece of equipment to extract valuable metals and components and then we separated the materials into what was recyclable and reusable. This method had minimal disruption to our operations but maximised material recovery. As a result:
- 4% of equipment was recycled or reused (8.7 metric tonnes)
- 19 tonnes of CO2e were saved
- The mining of 102 metric tonnes of virgin materials was avoided
The pilot’s success has paved the way for expansion to other European locations, demonstrating its scalability and adaptability. In 2023, we extended the initiative to Germany and in 2024, we have projects already executed or planned at multiple sites in Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Driving industry-wide change
Our partnership with Urban Miners continues to drive our efforts toward a circular economy, reinforcing our leadership in sustainability. Since the project, they have become one of our main Investment Recovery partners.
Their sustainable reporting capabilities were integral to the project. They provided comprehensive data on the quantities and types of materials recovered, the CO2e savings achieved, and the overall environmental impact of our recycling efforts. This data was crucial for evaluating the success of the project and for making informed decisions about future initiatives.
This project serves as a blueprint for other technology companies to adopt similar recycling and reuse strategies. By reducing our carbon footprint and conserving resources, we’re not only contributing to a sustainable future but also setting a new standard for environmental responsibility in the digital infrastructure industry.
Caroline Griffin Pain, our Chief Legal Officer commented:
“Our research has shown us that understanding and reducing the impact of digital infrastructure on the environment are critical priorities for global IT leaders. At Colt, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to influence these goals: to take action and drive lasting change. Partnering with Urban Miners will help Colt and our customers to drive real progress on our journeys to Net Zero.”
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